Sunil Gavaskar has voiced sturdy outrage over the surprising molestation of two Australia ladies cricketers in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, calling for the strictest punishment for the accused. The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning, has stirred nationwide outrage and drawn international condemnation, tarnishing India’s fame throughout the ongoing ICC Girls’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Sunil Gavaskar blasts heinous act
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar condemned the incident in extreme phrases, labeling it a shame to the nation’s values. Talking to India At this time, Gavaskar mentioned that the assault on visiting athletes violated India’s foundational perception of Atithi Devo Bhava (Visitor is God). Expressing fury, the legend said that such acts mirror a deep ethical decline and demanded uncompromising justice. “You lock him up and throw the keys away. That’s the one method such criminals ought to be handled,” he mentioned, urging the authorized system to ship swift punishment.
The incident has overshadowed the Australian crew’s World Cup marketing campaign. The gamers, who had not too long ago defeated England, have been strolling to a close-by café when a motorcyclist, recognized as 29-year-old Aqeel Khan, allegedly stalked and molested them.
Based on the police report, one of many gamers was touched inappropriately earlier than the suspect fled the scene. The Australian safety officer instantly alerted authorities, resulting in a fast investigation involving the Indore Police’s Crime Department. CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts performed a vital function in tracing and arresting the suspect inside hours.
Police investigations revealed that Khan is a ordinary offender with a historical past of felony costs, together with theft, assault, and tried homicide. He was not too long ago launched from Bhairavgarh Jail after serving a decade-long sentence. Authorities at the moment are assessing potential lapses in native safety preparations and have enhanced safety for all World Cup groups following the episode.
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BCCI and authorities condemn the incident
BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla expressed deep remorse over the incident, calling it an “unlucky and unacceptable” breach of security. He confirmed that the Board is in communication with the Australian crew and the ICC to make sure that the rest of the match proceeds securely.
Shukla said that the BCCI is reviewing safety protocols for all visiting gamers and can help all investigations till justice is served. “Nobody may have anticipated one thing like this, and it ought to by no means occur to anybody. The police have acted promptly, and we belief the regulation will take its due course,” he mentioned.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia additionally condemned the act, emphasizing that such conduct damages India’s fame as a world cricket hub. The Madhya Pradesh Police, led by Sub-Inspector Nidhi Raghuvanshi and Assistant Commissioner Himani Mishra, registered an FIR underneath Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for molestation and stalking. The accused’s bike was recognized from CCTV footage and a bystander’s observe of the registration quantity, enabling a swift arrest.
The incident has triggered political uproar in Madhya Pradesh, with opposition leaders accusing the state authorities of negligence relating to ladies’s security. In the meantime, authorities officers, together with Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and MPCA president Mahaanaryaman Scindia, assured that the perpetrator would face exemplary punishment. International cricket communities have additionally expressed solidarity with the victims, calling for added vigilance to make sure ladies athletes’ security worldwide.
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This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.