September 6, 2013 3:28:58 am
Women players of the Chhattisgarh powerlifting team on Thursday accused their associations general secretary of molesting them.
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In interviews to a local news channel,they gave details of how the secretary of Chhattisgarh Powerlifting Association general secretary Krishna Sahu would call them to his room and allegedly molest them. He also demanded a commission from their prize amount,they alleged. Its shameful. We cannot tell it. It has been continuing for long,now we decided to come together and speak against it, said a player. Whenever any prize was announced,he would demand his share. When we resisted he threatened us to implicate for doping, another said. Their names are being withheld.
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Most of the players belong to poor families,live in villages and belong to SC/ST categories. Some of the senior players managed to bring the victims together and speak out on Thursday. The Indian Express couldnt reach them,but a former national player from Chhattisgarh,who has known them for long,backed the allegations.
Yes,it has been going for long. Its been common knowledge. Association officers and coach seek undue favours from women players. Since many of them come from villages,they are easily suppressed. We demand strict action against these officers, Dilbag Singh said. He also named the same women as mentioned by the TV reporter.
Some of the players who spoke out belonged to very poor families. The father of one pulled rickshaw before he had a paralytic attack,her mother is a labourer. Anothers mother is a tailor,and father is a labourer, he said.
Krishna Sahu refuted the charges and said: This is all wrong,motivated by politics.
Sahu allegedly demanded a share of Rs 35,000 after Prerna Rane got the Rs 1 lakh Shaheed Kaushal Yadav award a few years ago. He also allegedly demanded Rs 80,000 from Santoshi Vibhare after she was nominated last month for the Rs 2 lakh Rajeev Pandey award. Vibhare has refused to give the amount.
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