Khalistani graffiti surfaces in Dharamshala; video threatens to target World Cup
Dharamshala (HP) (PTI): Police went on alert Wednesday after the "Khalistan Zindabad" slogan was found scrawled on the wall of a government building here and a video surfaced online, threatening to target the Cricket World Cup and "avenge" separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing in Canada.
The slogan was spray-painted in black on the wall of the Jal Shakti department building in the city, which is set to host five of the matches. The World Cup begins Thursday.
Police said two suspects have been identified on the basis of CCTV footage from the area. An eight-member special investigation team (SIT) headed by a deputy superintendent of police was formed.
In a statement, the state police said the video on social media refers to the graffiti in Dharamshala and carries a voice message reportedly from Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is based abroad and runs an organisation called Sikhs for Justice.
The video threatened that the World Cup final, scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad, will be targeted.
Police said there are references in the clip to "avenging" Nijjar's killing, and pro-Khalistan graffiti and flags in Dharamshala. The clip also says "Himachal Pradesh Banega Khalistan" (the state will turn into Khalistan).
Nijjar's murder in June set off a major diplomatic row recently between India and Canada after Ottawa suggested that Delhi was behind the killing.
Kangra Superintendent of Police Shalini Agnihotri said authorities were informed about the Khalistan graffiti on Tuesday night. A police team reached the spot and got the wall repainted, she said.
CCTV footage showed the suspects taking pictures after writing the slogan, police said.
Police said a meeting with officials from the Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Department was then held.
Five additional patrol teams and local intelligence units were deployed in Dharamshala and Mcleodganj areas, they added.
Kangra Police registered a case of disfigurement and damage to public property.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
