By IANS
Bhubaneswar : Five-year-old Budhia Singh, who set a record by running 65 km last year, sat on protest here for 57 hours after being prevented from walking about 500 km — all the way to Kolkata.
The boy along with his mother Sukanti Singh, coach Biranchi Das and over a hundred fans staged the protest Wednesday after the child welfare department and police prevented him walking from here to Kolkata.
Das told IANS: "The protest was called off because we have moved the court for justice."
Das has filed a petition in the Orissa High Court challenging the Khurda district child welfare committee's ban on Budhia's plan to walk from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata.
The court is likely to hear the case June 12. Das adopted the boy last year after paying Rs.800 to his impoverished mother.
Budhia, who has been at the centre of a growing row over child rights and exploitation, said his plan to walk from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata was intended to create awareness among the youth about sports.
Budhia became a celebrity last year after he earned a place in the Limca Book of World Records for his 60 km run between Puri and Bhubaneswar. Budhia runs 45 km twice a week and 20 km on other days.
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