India’s cricket fraternity has been shocked and stunned by a horrible incident that took place on Monday afternoon at the nets of the Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) ground.
An under-19 cricket coach, S. Venkatraman, was viciously assaulted inside the grounds, allegedly by three local cricketers who suspected him of influencing their non-selection for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Hyderabad. The incident took place when the coach was supervising other batsmen at the nets. Police have issued a ‘search warrant’ for the trio as the case has now been registered as an attempted murder.
According to investigators, the accused, identified as Karthikayan, Arvindraj, and Santosh Kumaran, met head-on with the coach over their exclusion from the tournament squad. In a sudden escalation, the three allegedly assaulted him with a cricket bat, delivering multiple blows before fleeing the scene.
As reported by NDTV, a senior police officer revealed that the assault was planned and extremely violent. The officer also informed that the suspects remain at large. “We are on the lookout for all three”, the officer said.
Venkataraman suffered fractures to his shoulder and rib cage, along with a deep gash on his forehead that required 20 stitches, authorities confirmed. He is currently undergoing treatment.
The police have registered an attempt-to-murder case. Surprisingly, according to the investigators, CCTVs at the CAP ground are non-functional!
The shocking incident has sparked outrage in local cricketing circles, with several officials condemning the attack as a dangerous sign of rising pressure and indiscipline among young players. CAP sources said the association would fully cooperate with the investigation and take internal action once the police complete their inquiry.
The violent assault inside a premier cricket facility has raised serious questions about player management, security at training venues, and the stresses surrounding state-level selections. For now, Puducherry Police says the priority is to arrest the accused and ensure accountability for the assault that has left the coaching fraternity shaken.
