Former India seamer Amit Bhandari was on Monday assaulted by a player and his accomplices at the St. Stephen’s College ground near Mori Gate. Mr. Bhandari was conducting selection trials for the Delhi team for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when the incident happened.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Nupur Prasad said the police received information about the incident around 1.15 p.m.
“A case under Sections 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered and the main accused, Anuj Dheda, and another named Naresh have been arrested,” she said.
Mr. Bhandari, in his complaint to investigators, said that Mr. Dheda approached him and asked why he wasn’t being considered for selection.
“He [Dheda] slapped Bhandari after which 10-15 men came and thrashed him with hockey sticks and rods,” Ms. Prasad said, adding that police teams are trying to identify the other accused and nab them.
According to an eyewitness, a group of men invaded the venue and targeted Mr. Bhandari for not favouring a player. “The attack was vicious. Bhandari was beaten up by this group even as he kept running to save himself,” the eyewitness said.
Mr. Bhandari, who is the chairman of the State senior selection committee, was being assisted by co-selectors Sukhvinder Singh, Mohan Chaturvedi and manager of the team Shankar Saini. He had reportedly been receiving threats for some time and had told his colleagues about it.
Delhi coaches Mithun Manhas and Parwinder Awana tried their best to stop the attackers but were overpowered by the group.
DDCA president Rajat Sharma met Mr. Bhandari at Sant Parmanand Hospital.
“He has been grievously injured and received stitches on his head. I have assured him that the DDCA is with him and we will take strictest possible action against those involved in the cowardly attack,” said Mr. Sharma. Mr. Bhandari is said to be out of danger.
Life ban demand
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who is also a friend of Mr. Bhandari, tweeted, “Disgusted to see this happen in the heart of the Capital. This can’t slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn’t. To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection.”
Terming it a planned attack, Mr. Saini said it was “scary” and something he had never experienced in Delhi before. “It happened in a flash. I saw Bhandari being beaten up. One of the men threatened to shoot us. We spotted a constable and that kind of saved the day. One of the assaulters was caught at the exit,” he said.
