In a shameful incident, Indian weightlifter Punam Yadav, a gold medallist in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Australia's Gold Coast, was hit with bricks and stones by assailants in Varanasi on April 14.
The ambush took place when Punam was visiting a relative, the police said. Punam's father, uncle and cousin tried to help her, but they too were thrashed. Cops somehow rescued her amidst heavy stone-pelting. They escorted her to a safe place. Punam's father is a farmer in the village.
According to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Amit Kumar, police were immediately deployed at the scene of the attack. Extra personnel were sent to secure Punam too.
READ:All Indian Women Who Shone At CWG 2018
The attack was the fallout of an old land dispute between a relative of the sportsperson and a neighboring village head. When Punam tried to intervene, she too was attacked. Following this, she dialed UP 100 service and managed to escape, according to the police.
All CWG 2018 updates here
The gold medallist is not injured, but a police force has been deployed to ensure that there was no escalation of hostilities. The people behind the attack have not been identified yet, but the investigation is on.
Punam picked a gold in the women’s 69kg event by lifting 100 kg in the snatch and 122 kg in clean and jerk. Back in 2014, she won a bronze medal and lifted a total weight of 222 kg, 100 kg in Snatch, 118 kg in Clean and Jerk.
Instead of a grand welcome, Punam had to dodge bricks and stones. Is this how we treat a nation’s pride?
Feature image Credit: Amar Ujala
READ: #KheloIndia Will Hone Young India’s Sporting Talent
Also Read: Does India take its sportswomen seriously?
Read More Stories By Ria Das
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/post_banners/gvj0QKg4FPB6Gn4Nk6GI.jpg)
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
