Haryana: 17-yr-old national shooter accuses coach of sexual assault; FIR registered
text_fields
Faridabad: A 17-year-old national-level shooter has accused her coach of sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Faridabad during a championship held in December last year, following which the Haryana Police have registered a case, officials said on Thursday.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered in Faridabad, the coach allegedly sexually assaulted the minor athlete and threatened to ruin her career and harm her family if she disclosed the incident.
The FIR states that the coach pressured the shooter to meet him at his hotel under the pretext of reviewing her performance during an ongoing competition. The alleged incident took place on December 16, when the athlete was participating in a national-level shooting championship at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad, South Delhi.
After the match, the coach allegedly asked her to meet him in the lobby of the Surajkund Hotel in Faridabad, where he was staying, to analyse her performance. When she arrived, he allegedly pressured her to go to his room for a more detailed discussion. The FIR alleges that the sexual assault occurred inside the hotel room, following which the coach threatened her to ensure her silence.
Based on a complaint filed by the girl’s mother, the police registered the case on Tuesday at the Women’s Police Station in NIT Faridabad under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), as the athlete is a minor.
Police officials said efforts are underway to collect electronic and forensic evidence, including CCTV footage from the hotel, call records, and travel details. Statements of hotel staff and other potential witnesses are also being recorded. The coach will be questioned as part of the investigation, police said.
The Station House Officer of the NIT Women Police Station, Maya Kumari, said she could not share further details due to the seriousness of the case and because the accused has not yet been arrested. “The arrest is still pending, and no names can be disclosed due to the sensitivity of the matter,” she said, adding that multiple teams have been deployed to gather evidence.
“The allegations are serious. We are following due process and ensuring that all evidence is preserved,” she added.
Following the allegations, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) suspended the coach.
Meanwhile, the Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) on Thursday took cognisance of the case. Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia wrote to the Haryana Police Commissioner, seeking the formation of a dedicated team to investigate the matter and requesting a status report on the FIR.
In her communication, Bhatia asked that a dedicated police officer be appointed to probe FIR No. 0003 dated January 6, 2026, registered at the Women Police Station, NIT Faridabad. The Commission also directed that the matter be treated as “most urgent” and that compliance be ensured within the stipulated time.
With IANS inputs