Thiruvananthapuram: Govind, a Class 5 boy at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, found himself stranded on Wednesday when a police barricade blocked his way home during the BJP’s Cliff House march.

The protest, organised to highlight the Sabarimala gold plating row, led police to set up barricades across the route near the Devaswom Board Junction, where Govind lives.

The boy, who had alighted from a bus, approached the barricade and explained to the police that he needed to get home. However, officers said the barricade could not be removed until the protest concluded. Frustrated and hungry, Govind can be heard saying, “I want meals, or else allow me to pass that side.” The visuals of the incident later went viral on social media.

The officers tried to calm him, but he continued to stand near the barricade for a long time before seeking shelter in the shade to escape the midday heat. At one point, he poured water from his bottle over his face.

The march, originally scheduled for 10 am, began after 12 noon, causing traffic disruption in the area for several hours. Once the protest ended, the police removed the barricade, allowing Govind to continue home safely.