Demand to close CRPF camp at stadium

A promising kabaddi player Manisha Devi who had been undergoing training at the outer ground of Moinul Haq stadium for the 34th National Games, perhaps had never thought in her wildest of dream that the gun-totting security personnel who were posted at the stadium for the safety and security of the sports personnel would take her life.

A promising kabaddi player Manisha Devi who had been undergoing training at the outer ground of Moinul Haq stadium for the 34th National Games, perhaps had never thought in her wildest of dream that the gun-totting security personnel who were posted at the stadium for the safety and security of the sports personnel would take her life.

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Manisha's tragic death has raised a very pertinent point about the need of posting security personnel, particularly the CRPF jawans, at a place where young girls came to attend their practice sessions for various sports events year in, year out. "It was the culmination of the events that took place off and on during various practice sessions at Moinul Haq stadium. The security personnel posted at the camps often engaged in making comments at the sports personnel, particularly the girls. But the girls did not take such matter seriously. Manisha was a dedicated player and had a strong character," said the kabaddi coach of Sports Authority of India (SAI) Tapas Sen who had come to Rajeshwari Hospital where the bullet-ridden body of Manisha was kept.

"On this fateful day, too, the jawan who sprayed bullets from his gun was heavily drunk. He came out of the stadium with loaded gun and killed Manisha when she ignored his advances and did not disclose her mobile number. There is no justification to continue with such security camps at a place where young girls and boys regularly come. Government should immediately wind up such camps," he added.