In a tragic turn of events, the Haryana Sports Department has officially distanced itself from two separate incidents where collapsing basketball poles led to the deaths of two teenage players. The department asserts that the courts where the fatal accidents occurred were not under its jurisdiction or part of its sanctioned training programs.
Two Young Lives Lost in Separate Incidents
Sixteen-year-old Hardik Rathee, a talented player who had represented Haryana at the national sub-junior basketball championship, died on November 25 in Lakhan Majra village of Rohtak district. The tragedy struck just a day after fifteen-year-old Aman succumbed to his injuries at PGIMS Rohtak on November 24. Aman was injured during practice in Bahadurgarh. In both cases, the cause of death was the collapse of the iron poles holding the basketball hoops.
Officials Point to Jurisdictional Issues
Endorsing the report of a suspended district officer, senior officials have clarified the department's stance. Sunita Khatri, Deputy Director of Sports for Rohtak division, stated that the basketball court in Lakhan Majra, Rohtak, falls under the jurisdiction of the panchayat department. Similarly, the court in Bahadurgarh is located within a government school premises.
This version was first detailed in a report by Rohtak District Sports Officer Anoop Singh, who was suspended by the state government on November 26. In his report, Singh maintained that the Lakhan Majra court was under the block samiti's jurisdiction, no basketball nursery was sanctioned there, and coaching was being provided informally by a local club member named Mohit. He also noted he had held the additional charge of the district post for only three months.
Jhajjar District Sports Officer Satyender Kumar submitted a similar report regarding the Bahadurgarh incident. He stated the department had no involvement with the court at Shaheed Brigadier Hoshiar Singh Stadium, where only a wrestling hall, managed by coach Sanjay Kumar, was constructed by them.
Families Demand Justice, Government Acts
Contradicting the officials' claims, Suresh Kumar, father of the deceased Aman, filed a police complaint on Monday against sports department officials, holding them accountable for sheer negligence. He revealed that in 2022, another player named Sangam was seriously injured when an adjoining pole fell at the same Bahadurgarh stadium, but no repairs or inspections followed.
Amidst the growing outcry, Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam stated that while sports nurseries and playgrounds are the department's responsibility, a thorough investigation has been ordered. "The matter will be thoroughly investigated, and whoever is found guilty will face action," the minister asserted.
The state government has initiated administrative changes beyond the suspension. On November 30, a reshuffle saw 2001-batch IAS officer Vijay Singh Dahiya appointed as the new Commissioner of Sports, replacing IPS officer Navdeep Singh Virk. 2013-batch IAS officer Parth Gupta was named the new Director of Sports, succeeding Sanjeev Verma.
