Rape case filed against Head Swimming Coach employed by Goa swimming body
Panaji/New Delhi, Sep 5: A case of rape and criminal intimidation was registered against a swimming coach by Goa Police on Thursday.
Surajit Ganguly, a coach employed by the Goa Swimming Association (GSA), is accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl who was training under him.
He was believed to have left for Bhopal, and police would be sending a team there to track him down, said inspector Kapil Nayak of Mapusa police station in Goa.
A purported video of the incident went viral on social media earlier, prompting Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to promise a stringent action.
A case under IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation), as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Goa Children's Act was registered against Ganguly, who is yet untraceable, said inspector Nayak.
The GSA sacked Ganguly after the video surfaced.
"...we terminated Surajit's contract immediately after watching the video. Both the girl and coach are from (West) Bengal," GSA secretary Syed Abdul Majid told PTI.
Ganguly was appointed by the GSA about two and a half years ago at its Mapusa indoor swimming training facility.
"We appointed him because he had a good track record as a coach. There were no prior complaints (of misbehaviour) against him," Majid added.
In 2017, the Goa Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution congratulating him and other coaches for bringing "pride and glory to swimming and diving sports and to the state" in the 63rd National Games.
On Wednesday, based on the girl's statement, Kolkata Police lodged a complaint against Ganguly, and transferred it to Goa Police.
Union minister Rijiju said he had asked the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that Ganguly was not employed anywhere in India.
"I've taken a strong view of the incident. The Goa Swimming Association has terminated the contract of coach Surajit Ganguly. I'm asking the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that this coach is not employed anywhere in India.
This applies to all Federations & disciplines," he tweeted.
I've taken a strong view of the incident. The Goa Swimming Association has terminated the contract of coach Surajit Ganguly. I'm asking the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that this coach is not employed anywhere in India. This applies to all Federations & disciplines. https://t.co/q6H1ixZVsi
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 5, 2019
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Youngster, family members assaulted in Hubballi over alleged misconduct with girl; three injured
Hubballi: A youngster accused of misbehaving with a girl at a dance class and his family members were allegedly assaulted during a clash between two groups in Tumakuru Oni of Kamaripet area in Hubballi.
According to sources, a group confronted the youth, identified as Tilak, accusing him of behaving inappropriately with a girl at the dance class. The situation escalated after Tilak’s family members reached the spot and entered into an argument with the group.
As tensions grew, another group of around 50 to 60 people allegedly joined and attacked Tilak and his family members.
Three persons identified as Parashuram Nadiyada, Dileep Nadiyada and Tilak sustained serious injuries in the incident and were rushed to the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital in Hubballi for treatment.
The victims have alleged that they were mistaken to be Muslims and were also subjected to caste-based abuse during the assault.
Police from the Kamaripet station reached the spot, brought the situation under control and registered a case in this regard.
