Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) fired its under-23 women’s head coach and assistant manager this week. The move follows a formal probe into sexual harassment claims. The Meghalaya State Commission for Women investigated the incident after a tournament in Agartala last December.
Head coach Hemant Roy and assistant manager Sanjay Mondal face serious charges. Investigators found they made suggestive comments about the players and used vulgar language during meetings. The assistant manager also physically assaulted a female athlete in his hotel room. The pair acted with total disregard for professional standards.
MCA president James Sangma notified the BCCI of the findings. He labeled the situation a deeply disturbing development. Sangma reported that some officials tried to bully the victims into keeping quiet about the abuse. In his letter, Sangma stated, "A young woman cricketer was physically assaulted in a hotel room by the man entrusted with managing the team. The head coach commented on the players’ body, and when complaints were eventually filed there were attempts to intimidate the complainants into silence."
The association also suspended honorary secretary Rayonald Kharkamni. He failed to address the initial reports and actively suppressed action on the matter. The MCA now looks to the BCCI for further guidance on the case.
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