Inform before going out, Madhya Pradesh Minister tells cricketers after Indore incident

Cricketers should inform the local administration or their team security officials when stepping out, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has said, days after two Australian women players were allegedly stalked and molested in Indore. 

“Players should keep the local administration or their security [officials] informed when they are going out. There is a huge craze for cricket players [in India], like it is for football players in England. Players sometimes don’t realise their fame but they are very popular. They should also be careful,” Mr. Vijayvargiya, also the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Indore, told reporters.

“This incident is lesson for both us and the players,” he said.

Accused in custody

Meanwhile, a court in Indore on Sunday (October 26) sent the accused, Aqueel Khan, 29, to 14 days of judicial custody. Mr. Khan is accused of stalking and molesting by “touching inappropriately” two members of Australia’s women’s cricket team, which was in Indore for the ongoing 13th edition of the Women’s World Cup. 

Accused Aqueel Khan. Credit: Special Arrangement

The accused has a criminal record of 10 past cases against him, including under the Arms Act and the  Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Indore Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya told The Hindu. 

The incident took place at about 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, when the two players were walking to a cafe at Khajrana Road near Indore’s Holkar cricket stadium. 

Mr. Dandotiya said that the accused was arrested on Thursday night following an intensive operation supported by technical and human intelligence. The accused, a resident of Daulatbagh Colony, works as a painter 

“We have also seized a motorcycle that he used to stalk the players. It has no number plate,” Mr. Dandotiya said, refuting media reports that a bystander had noted the vehicle number.

“The players, in their statement, had mentioned a man in a car who offered to help them after the incident. But nobody had the accused’s vehicle number or any other substantial identification,” he added. 

“We raided his house on Thursday night but he was not there. We later pinned down on him with the help of human intelligence,” Mr. Dandotiya said. 

The accused “tried to run from a police team and jumped into a drain and sustained injuries, including some fractures”, he added.