Man assaulted for refusing to play cricket for another team

Ludhiana: A 30-year-old businessman, who also plays cricket in local tournaments, was assaulted with a sharp edged weapon after he refused to play for the other team. The victim reportedly suffered three fractures and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Division No. 1 police, on the complaint of Gurwinder Singh of Kaneja village in Meharban, has lodged an FIR against Manpreet Singh Grewal of Guru Angad Dev Colony, Naati of Bhamian village, Richard and their nine unidentified accomplices.

Sukhwinder Singh, brother of the injured, told TOI, “My brother and I run a factory and play cricket for passion at local level. We had a cricket tournament on May 31 night. Before the match, accused Manpreet was asking Gurwinder to play for his team. He, however, refused. We played the match that we lost. After that, our entire team went to a dhaba to have dinner.”

“After dinner,, most of the team members left while Gurwinder along with Raja, Palash and Deepak were returning in their car in wee hours, when the accused, who were consuming beer on the roadside, intercepted their way. The accused hurled abuses at them after which Gurwinder and his friends came out of the car. The accused, thereafter, assaulted them with sharp-edged weapons and fled,” he added.

Sukhwinder said that Gurwinder sustained severe injuries while his friends got minor injuries. He alleged that Gurwinder got three fractures- on his nose, eyebrow and head. His condition is critical and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Sukhwinder added that earlier also they had played cricket several times against Manpreet Grewal.

ASI Baldev Singh, investigating officer from Division No. 1 police station, said the victim initially was unfit to record his statements. The police recorded his statements on Wednesday after which a case under sections 109 (attempt to murder), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 191 (3) (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the BNS was lodged against the accused, who are on the run. The police are conducting raids for their arrest.