UP: Women footballers allege assault by police

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 1 (ANI): National-level women footballers, who were in Kanpur to participate in a tournament, have alleged that they were ill-treated and assaulted by the police personnel.

Regional Sports Officer Ajay Sethi told ANI that though the Women's Football Federation of India (WFFI) had obtained prior permission for conducting the tournament, the police personnel interrupted the game calling it "unauthorised."

"The Football Association Secretary of Kanpur had objected that the association, which is organising the tournament is unauthorised. The two parties then took the matter to the Additional District Magistrate, who then referred the matter to us," Sethi told ANI.

"In our proceedings, we found out that the organisation conducting the tournament is registered under the chit fund society. The national federation has its own bylaws, according to which, they are allowed to promote women football across the country. Thus, we allowed them to conduct the tournament here and it should not have been interrupted," he added.

The police's alleged ill-behaviour has angered the participating teams.

"12 national teams had come for tournament and Kanpur police interrupted it without any reason. On one hand, the government is raising slogans of 'beti bachao beti padhao' and on another hand, they're playing with future of our girls," N. Kumar, Punjab women's team coach and All India Football Federation member said. (ANI)