BJP leader says star athletes often underestimate fan frenzy following incident during ICC Women\u2019s World Cup
\n Indore
\nMadhya Pradesh cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya of India\u2019s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has framed last week\u2019s alleged molestation of two Australian women cricketers in Indore as a \u201clesson\u201d in player precautions, urging athletes to alert security or local authorities before leaving team venues.
\nVijayvargiya said star athletes often underestimate public frenzy and should factor that into their movements. \u201cSometimes, players don\u2019t realise their popularity\u2026 they should be careful. This incident has happened; it\u2019s a lesson for everyone,\u201d he said, adding that teams ought to inform security or administration \u201cbefore leaving.\u201d
\nHe reiterated to local media that while there was a security lapse, players also share responsibility to coordinate movements.
\nTwo members of Australia\u2019s women\u2019s cricket team were allegedly harassed and inappropriately touched by a motorcyclist while walking to a caf\u00e9 in the central Indian city of Indore on Thursday morning, prompting a swift police operation and an arrest within hours, officials and local media said. The players reported the incident to team security, who filed a first information report.
\nPolice said the man approached the players near Indore\u2019s Ring Road, around 500 metres from the team hotel, and away from the Holkar Stadium, where Australia played their Women\u2019s World Cup fixtures.
\nA suspect with a prior criminal record was detained roughly six hours after the report; authorities said he faces charges under India\u2019s new criminal code for molestation and stalking.
\nCricket Australia and India\u2019s cricket authorities condemned the incident. The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, which oversees the venue in Indore, apologised and called the episode a stain on the city\u2019s reputation for hospitality.
\nIndia\u2019s board officials said they would review and tighten event security protocols around players in coordination with police.
\nInternational media outlets, including AP and Reuters, said the suspect was traced using local surveillance and arrested the same day.
\nAustralia remained in Indore for successive World Cup matches against England and South Africa. The incident has renewed discussion about off-field safety for women athletes on tour, with both national boards indicating additional measures could be adopted for the remainder of the tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BJP leader says star athletes often underestimate fan frenzy following incident during ICC Women\u2019s World Cup Indore Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya of India\u2019s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has framed last week\u2019s alleged molestation of two Australian women cricketers in Indore as a \u201clesson\u201d in player precautions, urging athletes to alert security or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":511142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-511112","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n