300 students duped by ‘national games’ organisers in Kurukshetra

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, July 19

A case of alleged duping of hundreds of children on the pretext of organising national-level games and providing certificates and medals to them has come to light in Kurukshetra.

In a complaint, Kishan Singh, a physical training instructor at New Light School, Uttarakhand, has alleged that on July 2, he saw an advertisement on Facebook that the 5th All-India National Championship 2019 was being organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Khel Maha Sangram India at Dronacharya Stadium in Kurukshetra. The games in 26 disciplines were to be organised from July 16 to 19.

He alleged that Manish Kumar Chaudhary and Sajjan Singh were the president and general secretary of the Akhil Bhartiya Khel Maha Sangram India, respectively. “After confirming the details from Manish Kumar, I reached the Punjabi Dharmashala, Kurukshetra, with four students and judo and karate coach Lakhvider Kaur. We had given Rs 3,000 per student as entry fee to Manish, but we were not provided any receipt,” he said.

He alleged that over 300 students from several states had reached there. “Judo, karate, yoga and wrestling were organised at Punjabi Dharmashala and we were told that since the stadium was flooded due to heavy rain, the athletics events would be organised on July 18. On Thursday, we found the coaches complaining about the arrangements and not providing the certificates and medals for the games organised. Meanwhile, the organisers who collected the money, managed to flee,” he said.

Yashbir Singh, district sports officer, Kurukshetra, said, “No one has sought any kind of approval from us for organising games here.” The police, meanwhile, said a case had been registered. 

The event that wasn’t

• Kishan Singh, a physical training instructor at New Light School, Uttarakhand, said participants from various states had come to Kurukshetra to take part in a championship from July 16 to 19
• The event had to organised by the Akhil Bhartiya Khel Maha Sangram India
• He said they were told that the event would be held on July 18, but the organisers fled