Stone attack on Australia cricket team bus : Police detains two persons, Sonowal directs Assam DGP to take appropriate action

The incident happened when Australian cricketers were headed to the Hotel Radison Blue from the Barsapara cricket stadium in Guwahati after winning the second T-20 match against India by 8 wickets.

Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said that nobody was injured in the stone attack.

"It is an unfortunate incident and there was no security laps. Adequate security was provided to the both India and Australia team. But suspected miscreants pelted stone on the Australian team bus," DGP Sahay said.

The Assam DGP also said that, police has already registered a case into the incident.

On the other hand, Guwahati city police commissioner Hiren Nath said that, a team of the Guwahati city police headed by a DIG was probing the incident.

Assam Cricket Association secretary Pradip Buragohain said that, the incident took place at Katahbari area near Gorchuk on NH-37 when the Australian cricketers were heading back to the hotel.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has strongly condemned the alleged incident of pelting stones by some unscrupulous elements at the bus carrying Australian cricketers and terming the incident ‘unfortunate’, Sonowal vowed to take strictest action against the culprits.

In a message, Sonowal stated that, it was really an unfortunate incident after a great game.

"It was a devious act to tarnish Guwahati’s reputation as an emerging sports hub. We strongly condemn it and investigation is going on full swing. Whoever indulged in the act did it with the sole objective of defaming Assam and derailing our journey towards excellence. We will foil the evil design with the support of the people of Assam. Culprits will get exemplary punishment," Sonowal said.

Referring to the security arrangements put in place for the international sports events in the state, the Assam CM also cited an appreciation letter from Roma Khanna, Head of Venue Operation, FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.

In a letter written to the state government, Khanna reasserted the football body’s gratitude towards Government of Assam and stated that, the security and the facilities that have been provided to the international teams have been immaculate and have set the benchmark for other events of this stature that India may host in the future.

Noteworthy that as soon as the news of the incident broke out, Sonowal directed the DGP, Assam Mukesh Sahay to expeditiously nab the culprits behind the dastardly act.

Sonowal also directed the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam Vinod Kumar Pipersenia to cause an inquiry into the incident and submit rport to him.

Moreover, as per direction of the Chief Minister, a team comprising state sports minister Naba Kumar Doley, Chief Secretary and DGP called on the Australian players to express the concern of the state government and informed the measures taken after the incident.

The Assam CM in his message also appreciated the sportsmanship spirit of the people of the state.

"Yesterday we witnessed a spectacular game and great display of sportsman spirit by the audience. Both teams were given a rousing welcome. Performance by both the teams was hailed by the audience, expressing people’s commitment towards turning Assam as the sports capital of India," Sonowal said.

Assam Cricket Association president and Finance minister of the state Himanta Biswa Sarma also condemned the incident.

On the other hand, thousands cricket fans of Assam, students, youths hold placards in front of Hotel Radison Blue and at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Borjhar and apologise to the Australian cricket team for the unfortunate incident.

Earlier the stone attack news was viral in social media after senior Australian batsman Aaron Finch posted a photograph of the damaged window pane on his twitter account and said that, pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)