Women wrestlers and coach killed in firing at Rohtak’s wrestling akhara

A group of armed people open fired on wrestlers and their coach at a wrestling akhara in Rohtak, Haryana on Friday evening.

According to reports, five people were killed and two were injured. However, till late evening, the police confirmed the death of three persons.

According to police officials, some enmity amongst wrestling coaches could have led to the firing in the akhada. The officials said that as per preliminary information, a wrestling coach is alleged to have opened fire, but police said they were verifying exact details.

Seven people sustained bullet injuries in the firing, of which five have died. Three of the five deceased have been identified as Pradeep Malik, Puja and Sakshi. Police sources added that the injured include the three-year-old child of one of the deceased.

Police have taken custody of the bodies and sent them for post-mortem. The injured have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

"We have formed police teams which are gathering more information about the incident," a police officer was quoted as saying by PTI.

Rohtak SP Rahul Sharma, who visited the spot after the incident, told The Indian Express, “Three persons have died while some others are under treatment. We have formed police teams to gather information in connection with the matter. As of now, there is no clarity who fired and for what reason.”

According to sources, Manoj Kumar, a resident of village Saragthala in Sonipat, along with his wife Sakshi — a wrestler from Uttar Pradesh — Pooja, wrestling coach Satish Kumar and one Pradeep Malik, are among the deceased.

The injured are under treatment in Rohtak’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) where a heavy police force has been deployed.

The incident is suspected to be a fallout of an old rivalry. The prime suspect belongs to a neighbouring village Baroda, said sources, adding a wrestling coach was running Mehar Singh Akhara in the town where the firing took place Friday evening.

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