Kabaddi players ‘trample’ Pakistan, China flags to ‘avenge’ border killings

Residents of Tarkheri village in Jhabua district have been paying back to the unchecked casualties during cross-border skirmishes by ‘trampling’ national flags of China and Pakistan while they play kabaddi.

Residents of Tarkheri village in Jhabua district have been paying back to the unchecked casualties during cross-border skirmishes by ‘trampling’ national flags of China and Pakistan while they play kabaddi.

The Kabbadi ground painted in the colours of Pakistan and China national flags at Tarkheri village in Jhabua district on Sunday.(HT)

After Bhagwanlal Mindkiya of Tarkheri and former rifleman of Tripura rifles was martyred in 2004 while stopping Chinese incursion at Takarjhala on the Sino-Indian border, villagers decided to hold kabaddi competitions in Mindkiya’s memory every year.

On Monday, the 12th annual kabaddi competition kicked off in Tarkheri by felicitating five ex-armymen by the organising committee. The audience is to pray for the sovereignty of the country while players battle it out on the playground, divided into two sides painted national flags of China and Pakistan on them.

No matter which team wins, the players would run over the painted ground and thereby, trample it and avenge loss of Indian soldiers. “Every second day we lose someone on the border. Everyone knows which countries are responsible for this,” said organiser Ambrish Bhavsar.