SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 13: The 12-time state champion Pritam Singh tendered an apology for slapping and abusing a player during the state chess championship held at Ranchi in October last year.
At the meeting of president Pradip Verma’s appointed probe committee held at Jamshedpur, Pritam Singh regretted his action against the player, and the state chess association duly closed the chapter.
The probe committee chairman NK Tiwari (secretary of East Singhbhum district association) said at the meeting that Pritam Singh said sorry to Bholanath Das and Das withdrew his complaint against him.
Jamshedpur player Bholanath Das had lodged that Pritam Singh abused and slapped him during the state chess championship held at Sarla Birla University in Ranchi on October 28 last year. Das also lodged a written complaint to the All India Chess Association about his assault.
Rattled by the alleged incident, AJCA president Pradip Verma set up a four-member committee comprising Jayant Bhuyan, Abdhesh Kumar, and Apurvo Ghosh under NK Tiwari to probe the incident and report.
Sources said even at the probe committee, Pritam and Bolanath again engaged in verbal dwell. However, chairman Tiwari took a tough stand and scolded both players for defaming Jamshedpur chess and said it was a shameful matter.
“Pritam relented and said sorry to Bholanath and he withdrew the complaint saying that he (Pritam ) is senior. So chapter has been closed,” said NK Tiwari.
After the Ranchi incident, AJCA held up a cash prize of Pritam Singh (Rs 10,000) and banned his participation in any tournament till he was absolved from charges. Pritam had to skip three tournaments (two in Jamshedpur and one in Chaibasa.)
However, on the recommendation of NK Tiwari, the ban on Pritam Singh was lifted and he was given his held-up cash prize. He participated in the state rapid chess at Ranchi and won.
Sources said president Pradip Verma and executive president Richa Sanchita intervened in the matter when the All India Chess Association sought a report on the complaint of Bholanath Das. Since both the players were from Jamshedpur, president Pradip Verma set up a committee under NK Tiwary to probe and submit a report as soon as possible.
Though both the players belonged to Jamshedpur, the Ranchi slapping incident divided the state association into two groups.
Sources said outgoing state general secretary Neeraj Mishra, Saraikela Kharsawa district association secretary Ajay Kumar, West Singhbhum district secretary Basant Kumar Khandelwal jumped in support of Bholanath Das while Ranchi based state office bearers including coordinator Prabhat Ranjan, the then tournament director Manish Kumar, chief arbiter Dipak Kumar and vice-president Ajay Kumar Singh supported Pritam Singh.
