Amit Bhandari told the police about the cricketer and that his 14 accomplices attacked him in a statement. (Reuters file Photo) Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Chief selector Amit Bhandari was, here on Monday, assaulted by an aspirant and his 14 other accomplices after he was not selected for a cricket tournament, a senior police officer said, adding the accused has been arrested. "Bhandari has been admitted to Sant Parmanand Hospital with head and leg injuries. He is out of danger," Deputy Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said. The incident occurred around 1.30 p.m. at the St. Stephen's Ground in north Delhi when one Shukhwinder Singh, accomplice of Bhandari informed police that a group of 10-15 youth assaulted the former India pacer with sticks and cricket bats. The DDCA chief selector, chairperson of Syed Mushtaq Ali T-20 tournament for Delhi Under-23 team, said in a statement that he was attacked by one Anuj Dheda and his other 14 accomplices after he did not select him, the police officer said. "We have arrested Anuj Dheda and his accomplice Naveen from their hideout. Efforts are on to arrest other accomplices," the DCP said. Earlier, speaking to IANS, DDCA president Rajat Sharma promised strict action against the culprits. Narrating the incident to IANS, Sharma said the assault was carried out by goons hired by a disgruntled player, whose name was missing from the list of probables. "He [Bhandari] was watching this [Syed Mushtaq Ali] match at Stephen's Ground, and other selectors were also there. One player came up to him and asked why he wasn't selected and Bhandari told him that the selection was made purely on the basis of merit," Sharma said. "And then 10-12 people came jumping over a wall and attacked Bhandari." Sharma said the DDCA has also alerted the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in case of further medical emergency. "He is currently stable and under observation. We have alerted AIIMS, just in case he needs further medical attention," the DDCA President said. Assuring all help to Bhandari, Sharma, also the editor-in-chief of India TV news channel, said: "He is obviously traumatised and shaken. I assured him of all help and have spoken personally to the Delhi Police officials to take the strictest possible action." Bhandari also runs a cricket academy.<doc-sep>Gautam Gambhir was left absolutely furious over Bhandari's assault | Photo Credit: AP Member of Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) senior selection committee Amit Bhandari, on Monday, was assaulted by goons during the under-23 team selection at St Stephen's College ground. Bhandari sustained injuries on his head and ear and was immediately rushed to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines by his colleague Sukhvinder Singh. The act was condemned by former Delhi cricketer Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and present Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan. Gambhir was left furious with the incident and said that he ensure that the incident "can’t slip under the carpet." He tweeted: "Disgusted to see this happen right in the heart of the Capital. This can’t slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn’t. To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection." Disgusted to see this happen right in the heart of the Capital. This can’t slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn’t. To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection. https://t.co/RpS6fzTcNl — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 11, 2019 Shikhar and Sehwag too joined to express their disappointment over the act and called for stringent action against the culprits. I can't believe this has happened to @Amitbhandari110 bhaiya. It is sad, shocking and cowardly. This needs urgent investigation and the strictest action should be taken against the culprits. — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 11, 2019 The attack on Delhi selector Amit Bhandari for not picking a player is a new low and I am hopeful that stringent action will be taken against the culprit and adequate measures will be taken to avoid such incidents. — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 11, 2019 Delhi's senior and U-23 team manager Shankar Saini recollected the incident saying that a couple of men were having a heated conversation with Bhandari while he was having lunch. They left a few minutes later before a group of men barged in with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains and injured Bhandari. "I was having my meal along with a colleague inside the tent and Bhandari along with other selectors and senior team coach Mithun Manhas was watching the probables play a trial match. A couple of men first came and went up to Bhandari. There were heated exchanges between Bhandari and the two men. They left and before we could gather our thoughts, suddenly some 15 men armed with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains came charging," Saini said. "When the other boys attending the trials along with us rushed to save Bhandari, they started threatening us and one of them said, "Don't get into this or else we will shoot you. They hit Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods and he sustained head injury," the former Delhi seamer added.<doc-sep>After Amit Bhandari, chairman of the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) senior selection committee was assaulted by a group led by a disgruntled Under-23 player, the accused and his brother have been arrested according to the Delhi Police. During the Delhi senior team's practice game at the St Stephen's ground, Anuj Dheda, who was not selected in the state team, attacked Bhandari, who sustained head and ear injuries and was taken to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines by his colleague Sukhvinder Singh. The goons along with the player in question fled before the cops could reach the spot but were later arrested. The senior team is gearing up for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (National Twenty20 tournament), starting February 21. "At around 1.15 pm today at St Stephens ground where trials were going on, one person Anuj Dheda, who was not selected, came and asked about his rejection and slapped Bhandari. Some 10-15 more boys came and hit him," Nupur Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) said. "Based on the complaint, a case has been registered and the accused and his brother Naresh were arrested," the DCP said. Dedha's name featured in the initial 79-member list, released by the DDCA in November for the U-23 trials. As per the probables list accessed by PTI, his date of birth is November 22, 1995. DDCA president Rajat Sharma has told PTI that guilty will not be spared. "I have personally spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. The guilty will not go unpunished. We will register an FIR," Sharma said. Rajat Sharma, who went to meet Bhandari at the hospital said, "He is very shaken and it is natural. The doctors have advised that he should be kept under observation for 24 hours as a precautionary measure." "The goons were pressurising him to select a player, who had failed to get into the U-23 team on merit. Bhandari claimed that one man also threatened him with a revolver. "This is shameful that an honest selector was being prevented from performing his duties. I have been told that one person has been detained for questioning," Sharma said. "To begin with I am calling for a life ban for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection." Delhi's senior team manager Shankar Saini narrated the incident. "I was having my meal along with a colleague inside the tent and Bhandari along with other selectors and senior team coach Mithun Manhas was watching the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy probables play a trial game. "A couple of men first came and went up to Bhandari. There was a heated exchange between Bhandari and the two men. They left and before we could gather our thoughts, suddenly some 15 men armed with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains came charging," Saini said. "When the other senior team players attending the trials along with us rushed to save Bhandari, they started threatening us and one of them said, "Don't get into this or else we will shoot you." "They attacked Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods as he tried to run away and he sustained head injuries," the former Delhi player added. According to an eye witness, Dedha and his accomplices chased Bhandari in front of the senior team players as the former India pacer ran for his life. When asked who could be behind the attack, Saini said, "I was not there when these two guys came and spoke with Bhandari. He is obviously rattled and once he gives his statement to the police, we will get to know more." Delhi cricket has always been mired in corruption charges and allegations of dubious selections at the various age-group levels have also surfaced time and again. (With PTI Inputs)<doc-sep>New Delhi: Former India pacer Amit Bhandari, who is chairman of the DDCA senior selection committee, was on Monday assaulted by a group of henchmen led by an U-23 cricketer during the Delhi senior team's training at the St Stephen's ground. Bhandari sustained head and ear injuries and was taken to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines by his colleague Sukhvinder Singh. The goons fled before the cops could reach the spot. "We are looking into the matter and a case will be registered after recording the statement of the victim," Nupur Prasad, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) said. Meanwhile, the key accused has been identified as Delhi cricketer Anuj Dedha, who was one of the 56 probables announced by DDCA on 28 January, according to a report on CricketNext. “Dedha was annoyed that he has not been picked for the Under-23 side. He was threatening Bhandari for a few days now. "But what's shocking is the way they have attacked Bhandari. We have filed a police complaint already and strict action will be taken against all of them," said DDCA member Siddharth Verma Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rajat Sharma told PTI that guilty will not be spared. "We are trying to procure all details of the incident. As far as I have come to know, it is regarding one disgruntled player, who didn't make it to the probables list for the National U-23 tournament. "The SHO from the local police station has reached the Stephen's ground and I have personally spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. The guilty will not go unpunished. I promise exemplary action against whoever is found involved in this misdeed. We will register an FIR," Sharma said. Sharma, who went to meet Bhandari at the hospital said: "He is very shaken and it is natural. The doctors have advised that he should be kept under observation for 24 hours as a precautionary measure." "The goons were pressurising him to select a player, who had failed to get into the U-23 team on merit. Amit claimed that the one man also threatened him with a revolver." Delhi's senior team manager Shankar Saini narrated the incident. "I was having my meal along with a colleague inside the tent and Bhandari along with other selectors and senior team coach Mithun Manhas was watching the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy probables play a trial match. "A couple of men first came and went up to Bhandari. There were heated exchanges between Bhandari and the two men. They left and before we could gather our thoughts, suddenly some 15 men armed with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains came charging," Saini said. "When the other senior team players attending the trials along with us rushed to save Bhandari, they started threatening us and one of them said, "Don't get into this or else we will shoot you." "They attacked Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods and he sustained head injury," the former Delhi seamer added. When asked who could be behind the attack, Saini said, "I was not there when these two guys came and spoke with Bhandari. He is obviously rattled and once he gives his statement to the police, we will get to know more." Delhi cricket has always been mired in corruption charges and allegations of dubious selections at the various age-group levels have also surfaced time and again. With inputs from PTI<doc-sep>
Former Delhi captain and international cricketer Gautam Gambhir expressed his anger over the an incident on Monday where chairman off Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) senior selection committee Amit Bhandari was assaulted by a group of unidentified men during the Under-23 team's trials at St Stephen's College ground. Bhandari sustained head and ear injuries and was taken to Sant Paramanand Hospital at Civil Lines by his colleague Sukhvinder Singh. The goons fled the spot before the police could reach. Gambhir, who played his last match for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy in December last year, was "disgusted" with the incident and said he would "personally ensure" that this incident is not taken lightly. "Disgusted to see this happen right in the heart of the Capital. This can't slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn't. Disgusted to see this happen right in the heart of the Capital. This can’t slip under the carpet and I will personally ensure it doesn’t. To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection. https://t.co/RpS6fzTcNl Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 11, 2019 "To begin with I am calling for a life ban from all cricket for the player who orchestrated this attack post his non-selection," Gambhir tweeted. Earlier in the day, DDCA president Rajat Sharma told PTI that guilty will not be spared. "We are trying to procure all details of the incident. As far as I have come to know, it is regarding one disgruntled player, who didn't make it to the probables list for the National U-23 tournament. "The SHO from the local police station has reached the Stephen's ground and I have personally spoken to the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik. The guilty will not go unpunished. I promise exemplary action against whoever is found involved in this misdeed. We will register an FIR," Sharma said. Delhi's senior and U-23 team manager Shankar Saini narrated the incident. "I was having my meal along with a colleague inside the tent and Bhandari along with other selectors and senior team coach Mithun Manhas was watching the probables play a trial match. "A couple of men first came and went up to Bhandari. There were heated exchanges between Bhandari and the two men. They left and before we could gather our thoughts, suddenly some 15 men armed with hockey sticks, rods and cycle chains came charging," Saini said. "When the other boys attending the trials along with us rushed to save Bhandari, they started threatening us and one of them said, "Don't get into this or else we will shoot you." "They hit Bhandari with hockey sticks and rods and he sustained head injury," the former Delhi seamer added. When asked who could be behind the attack, Saini said, "I was not there when these two guys came and spoke with Bhandari. He is obviously rattled and once he gives his statement to the police, we will get to know more." Delhi cricket has always been mired in corruption charges and allegations of dubious selections at the various age-group levels have also surfaced time and again.