An 80-member team from Maharashtra that had gone to Bihar to take part in a martial art tournament was held hostage by the organisers over some dispute just before they were to board a train to Mumbai on Thursday morning.
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It was only after the intervention of a Maharashtrian IPS officer, known as a super cop there, that the team was allowed to go. Shivdeep Waman Lande, SP of Bihar police's special task force, has a large fan following in Bihar, especially among women, for being a terror to reckon with for law breakers and his no-nonsense attitude.
The team was in Patna for an all-India tournament on salimbam, a lesser-known martial art. The participants from Maharashtra alleged that the organisers helped the team from Bihar get more medals. As a mark of protest, they wanted to return their medals.
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Maharashtra coach Pradeep Pandey said the Bihar Silambam Association gave them a rousing welcome when they reached Patna on Monday. The matches were played on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But difference cropped up soon after losers from the Bihar team were allegedly given medals. Some were even given a second chance. "A few participants who did not take part in initial matches were allowed to play in the finals." Pandey said they were particularly upset with Abhilasha Kumari, the association's treasurer. She was apparently very rude.
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Things came to a head on the second day when Bihar topped the medal tally with 22 victories, followed by Maharashtra's 18 wins and Tamil Nadu in third position. "Our boys and girls were upset due to the bias against them. We spoke to our secretary Kishor Yewale who told us to return the medals and trophies," Pandey said.
Abhilasha Kumari along with at least 60 people allegedly held the team hostage at the place where they had been put up and threatened them. "The Maharashtra sports team was also told that Marathi people and Raj Thackeray ill-treat Biharis in Mumbai," said Pandey. This went for over two hours.
With Abhilasha and her gang turning more and more aggressive, the team called up Lande for help. Pandey said the IPS officer immediately got in touch with the local police and got them released. "We left the awards there and boarded the train."
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Abhilasha said, "The Maharashtra team is spreading wrong information. They accepted the medals and certificates on Wednesday morning. At night, four persons including one woman called Pooja came to us and said they would be returning the awards. I won't take back anything. It was given in front of everyone. If you want throw it, do it after you reach Mumbai.'' But she admitted to being rude to the team.
Lande said, "The Maharashtra team told me that they were held up. I have found that they were beaten up too. I spoke to Patna city SP Manu Maharaj who sent police assistance and got them released. There is no police complaint as the Maharashtra team had to leave."?