Vizag:
Fifty children from a karate academy in Vishakhapatnam had a car and motorcycle driven over their hands and the town's Mayor clapped enthusiastically. For this, shockingly, was meant to be a display of the children's ability to endure pain and a test of their skills.
So 50 children waited hands outstretched and the car and motorcycle drove over them. The Mayor, P Janardhan Rao said: "It is very nice that such karate skills are being taught to the children of Vizag.''
Surprisingly parents and children that NDTV spoke to said they were aware of the risks involved and in fact, had given their consent to this dangerous act.
Swathi, a Class X student who trains at the private karate academy, said: "I am doing this from childhood. I participated in the 2002 Nationals and even won a bronze medal. For a social cause once 50 cars went over my hands.''
The students belonged to different schools in Vizag and have been learning karate at this academy for several years. It organises such meets quite regularly.