VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Parents of swimming athletes are in shock after a video of chief coach Surajit Ganguly sexually harassing a minor student went viral, leaving the swimming association redfaced.
Ganguly, who has been training over a dozen swimmers at Peddem Swimming Pool in Mapusa, has been charged with rape, molestation and criminal intimidation, after the victim lodged a complaint against him at Rishra Police Station in West Bengal. The investigation has been transferred to Goa Police as the crime took place in Mapusa.
As the news surfaced, parents of swimming athletes have been taken aback as Ganguly was inducted on recommendation of Goa Swimming Association (GSA) headed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
Herald spoke to parents who are now dumbstruck over the incident. “We worshipped him like God. Before any tournament, we took his blessings for success. This incident has left us shocked. We don’t know how to react,” said a parent from Mapusa requesting anonymity.
Another parent recalled how the 15-year-old was repeatedly harassed by Ganguly, who earned his monthly remuneration through fees paid by his students undergoing training at the Peddem swimming pool. “It’s been more than six months that Ganguly has been harassing the girl. He would slap her and abuse her in public, and shout at her if she was absent even for a day. We all know she was frustrated with this sort of harassment,” the parent said.
It is, however, unfortunate that no parent came forward to complain about the alleged harassment meted out to the girl. Sources told Herald that the victim, hailing from the alleged accused’s home State, masterminded the trap to catch him red-handed, evidence that could help prepare a water-tight case against the now suspended coach. “She placed the mobile camera at a certain point to capture the crime. When Ganguly entered her room, his vulgar acts were caught on the device. She has submitted this evidence to the police for investigation. The girl had often resisted his moves but he kept harassing her,” said the source.
One of the members of the GSA narrated how Ganguly was shunned from Panjim after parents of swimmers undergoing training at Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) pool protested his entry. “There’s no doubt that Ganguly is a qualified swimmer and a good coach, but when swimmers at Campal swimming pool already had a coach appointed by SAG, another coach was not needed. The GSA was also charging Rs 5,000 per swimmer as fees towards Ganguly’s monthly payment. Therefore, parents opposed his entry after which Ganguly was shifted to Mapusa,” recalled a parent, who was amongst those protesting the West Bengal coach’s entry through the association. The parents at Mapusa and Panjim have extended their support to the girl.
GSA president Digambar Kamat said no complaint was made since Ganguly was appointed chief coach around two years back. “Many parents suggested that Ganguly is a good coach of international standard. We (GSA) therefore approached the SAG requesting to allow Ganguly to train the swimmers. Many students from other States have also been trained under him but till date no complaint was reported to us,” Kamat said. However, in view of the present case, GSA sought from the SAG to discontinue the coach’s service.
Kamat said he had raised the issue of shortage of swimming coaches and sought appointment of a woman swimming coach, in the recently held monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly.
