Two Australian women cricketers were harassed and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café in Indore on Thursday, October 23, morning.
According to PTI, around 11 a.m., the players were walking from their team hotel to a café when one player allegedly received a live-location distress message from her security detail, mentioning, “There’s a guy following us, trying to grab us.” The suspect is reported to have grabbed one player and inappropriately touched the other before running away from the spot. The police arrested a 29-year-old man who is charged with ten prior criminal cases. Police caught him following a bystander’s information lead about the motorcycle's number plate. It took them about six hours to catch the culprit.
Cricket Australia gave a statement, “CA can confirm two members of the Australian Women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café in Indore. The matter was reported by team security to police, who are handling the matter.”
The Indore cricket association and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have expressed deep regret and condemned the act by mentioning it as “very condemnable but isolated.”
The accused, identified as Aqueel Khan, is now arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
Who is Aqueel Khan?
The accused, identified as Aqueel alias Nitra, is 29 years old and belongs to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The man is a serial offender and has at least 10 prior criminal cases against him, including charges of molestation, robbery, assault, assault, and attempted murder, police said.
According to ANI, “The accused Aqueel is a resident of Azadnagar. He has been charged under sections 74 and 78 of the BNS. The incident occurred around 11 am on 23rd October, when members of the women's Australian Cricket Team were walking towards a cafe from their hotel. We are examining if there were any shortfalls in the security protocols."
According to NDTV’s police sources, Aqueel has a history of committing crimes while out on parole or bail. He tried to harass the woman after he was a part of a knife attack on a couple last year.
The incident has sparked concerns over women's safety in Madhya Pradesh.
