Five women shooters, including a minor, have come forward to file a complaint against a 38-year-old coach affiliated with the Rajasthan Rifle Association (RRA). The allegations include rape and sexual harassment that have allegedly persisted over the past three years, according to officials with knowledge of the situation.
The complainants, accompanied by the joint secretary of RRA, Mahipal Singh, lodged their complaint at the Malviya Nagar police station in Jaipur. The complaint includes charges under sections 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
While the FIR contains a rape accusation by one of the five complainants, the others have detailed instances of sexual harassment coupled with the exertion of career-related pressure on the athletes. Further details are not being disclosed at this time, as an ongoing investigation is underway.
According to officials, the coach allegedly subjected the women shooters to harassment for over three years by threatening to jeopardize their careers. He took advantage of his position as a supplier of firearms, as per the contract with the association, and used this leverage to molest the athletes, especially before national and international tournaments.
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The coach is also accused of sending indecent messages via WhatsApp and coercing the athletes into attending shooting range practice sessions alone.
One of the victims had previously lodged a "sexual harassment" complaint against the coach with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on September 18. In response, the NRAI formed an internal complaints committee (ICC) to investigate the matter and requested the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to suspend the coach, who was an SAI-appointed coach in Jaipur ranges (OASES Shooting Range).
SAI acted swiftly and directed RRA to bar the coach from entering Jaipur ranges on September 25. Subsequently, the NRAI ICC conducted multiple meetings, during which three female shooters provided statements and evidence, including audio recordings and WhatsApp messages. Despite being issued a show-cause notice and a request to appear before the committee, the coach has not yet appeared.
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As a result of the victims' initial complaints going unaddressed by the state association (RRA), NRAI formed a disciplinary committee and issued a show-cause notice to RRA regarding their failure to address the grievance of the victim shooter.
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