Unlike the other incidents, however, Vimal Patel, 11, did not place himself in any danger. Angry after his parents refused to let him watch Shaktimaan on Doordarshan last night -- the serial starts at 10.30 p.m. and the Patels wanted Vimal in bed as he had school today at 9 a.m. -- the boy locked himself up in his room for more than an hour and called out to the tele-hero to rescue him.

The DD serial depicts the hero -- an Indian adaptation of the likes of Superman and Batman -- as rushing to the aid of anyone, especially children, in distress.

It was after much persuasion and promises that Vimal agreed to unlock the door to his frantic parents.