It was the attack on the Bangladeshi cricket fan, ‘Tiger Roby,’ who had been watching the second Test between India and Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium, Kanpur. The incident has raised questions about the safety of fans at sporting events with its occurrence on the very first day of the match itself.
The Attack on Tiger Roby
The siege in the stands started as a Bangladesh cricketing die-hard enthusiast, Tiger Roby, was claimed to be assaulted by other spectators. According to his version, he was hit at the back and lower abdomen so hard that he was visibly in pain and could hardly breathe. The security then rushed in to take him away to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment.
In a statement to Sportstar, Roby said, “They hit me on my back and lower abdomen, and I could not breathe.” A video of him in considerable distress, gesturing to make his point about the assault he faced, has been circulated by the PTI news agency.
Varying accounts from authorities
However, the local police at the stadium have strongly denied Roby’s claims that he was attacked. They instead claimed that they found him near the C Block entrance struggling to breathe and hardly able to utter sensibly. According to one source, his condition could be the result of dehydration and not physical attacks by some opponents.
This dispute between the narration of Roby and the police account has caused confusion over the incidents.
Harassment Before Incident
In a conversation with the Indian Express, Roby details the harassment he faced during the day’s play. “I have been verbalized from the beginning of this match. By morning, they had already used a lot of abuses against me,” he says. To save himself, he climbed to the balcony, from where he felt a little safer. “A cop told me not to stand at that block. I was there only because I was scared. They were hurling abuses since morning.”.
His experience is yet another worrying trend of hostility among fans of different teams.
History of Fan Violence
This is not the first case of violence between Indian and Bangladeshi fans. In the previous year, in a match between India and Bangladesh at the ODI World Cup in Pune, another famous Bangladeshi fan, Shoaib Ali Bukhari, was known as ‘Tiger Shoaib’. He was attacked by Indian fans. His iconic tiger mascot was broken, which symbolized a great level of tension between both fan followers.
Increased Security Arrangements
Security was enhanced at the Green Park Stadium before the Kanpur Test, as the authorities had valid reason to apprehend protests from the Hindu Mahasabha, who threatened to protest en masse during the match. Their protest plan was apparently related to “atrocities” against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Conclusion
The attack on Tiger Roby raises a serious issue about the safety of cricket fans at sporting events. And at a time when the rivalry between fans is on the rise, authorities need to be proactive for safe and enjoyable spectating by all parties concerned. The stoning of a Bangladesh fan is a reminiscence that India needs to create an atmosphere that is acceptable to fans from any section. Sportsmanship and camaraderie, therefore, are the need of the hour as the series between India and Bangladesh continues.
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