Team Herald
MAPUSA: Mapusa Police on Thursday booked Surajit Ganguly, a swimming coach training at Mapusa Indoor swimming facility for allegedly raping and criminal intimidating a 15-year-old girl.
The coach, who is training students at Mapusa, has been accused of molesting the victim girl training under him.
Kolkata Police on Wednesday had lodged a formal complaint based on the girl’s version. Since the case falls in Goa Police jurisdiction, it has been transferred here. The case is now being further investigated. Both the coach and the minor are natives of West Bengal.
The girl in her complaint alleged that she was mentally and physically tortured during her six-month stay in Goa. The horrific incident came to light after the victim’s parents noticed her below par performances.
When the parents questioned her as to why she was avoiding her coach, the girl narrated the ordeal to them. They immediately went back to Bengal and filed a police complaint.
According to Mapusa Police, a case has been registered against the coach under sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and under Goa Children’s Act.
Mapusa PI, Kapil Nayak informed Herald that the police are in the process to track down the accused.
“We came to know that he has left for Bhopal. The incident occurred in rented premises at Mapusa where the victim was residing. The accused was training during certain hours over the last two years ago at Mapusa indoor swimming training facility,” Nayak added.
He said police have formed multiple teams to nab the accused.
Meanwhile, a video of the alleged molestation incident had gone viral on social media earlier, prompting Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to promise a stringent action.
PTI ADDS: The Goa Swimming Association sacked Ganguly after the video surfaced.
“…We terminated Surajit’s contract immediately after watching the video. Both the girl and coach are from (West) Bengal,” GSA secretary Syed Abdul Majid said.
“We appointed him because he had a good track record as coach. There were no prior complaints (of misbehaviour) against him,” Majid added.
In 2017, the Goa Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution congratulating him and other coaches for bringing “pride and glory to swimming and diving sports and to the State” in the 63rd National Games.
Rijiju said he had asked the Swimming Federation of India to ensure that Ganguly was not employed anywhere in the country.
“I’ve taken a strong view of the incident. The Goa Swimming Association has terminated the contract of coach Surajit Ganguly. I’m asking the Swimming Federation of India to ensure
that this coach is not employed anywhere in India. This applies to all Federations & disciplines,” he tweeted.
