SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 29: The state chess championship, being played at the Sarala Birla University Ranchi, has snowballed into a controversy after a top-rank player Pritam Singh allegedly abused and slapped a junior player Bholanath Das of Jamshedpur during the match.
The victim player has lodged a written complaint against former champion Pritam Singh to All Jharkhand Chess Association (AJCA) secretary Neeraj Kumar Mishra.
Bholanath Das has not mentioned the name of Pritam Singh in his complaint but has alleged that his opponent in the 5th round who also claims to be an income tax employee not only abused and slapped but also threatened to get him arrested by police in full public view.
The accused was identified as Pritam Singh as he was the opponent in 5th round and he is an employee of income tax.
On the complaint paper, 20 players of Ranchi, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Dumka, Bokaro and other districts have signed as witnesses of the incident. However, three of them at late night of Friday became hostile and alleged their signature was taken on blank paper. But notably, their signature is in the middle of the other signatories.
The unsavoury incident reportedly took place on Friday morning during the 5th round of the Championship. Victim Bholanath das was pitted against Pritam Singh. The former champion (Pritam Singh) after winning the match allegedly dragged away Bholanath Das by holding his collar from out of Hall and slapped him in the face after abusing him (Das) and his dead parents in presence of over 30 players.
It is said when some players tried to rescue Bholanath Das, Pritam Singh allegedly pushed them as well. Das has recently got his leg operated and the doctor advised him complete bed rest.
Sources said Pritam Singh was infuriated over a complaint lodged by BholanathDas to an arbiter against him. It is said during the match, Das got off his seat for which Singh protested him. When Singh also went to the washroom without informing, Das lodged a complaint to the arbiter.
The arbiter after the match informed Pritam Singh about the complaint who lost his cool and ended up beating Das.
Notably, AJCA vice-president Vijay Singh, joint secretary Ajay Kumar, Treasurer Satish Kumar, tournament director Manish Kumar, chief arbiter Dipak Kumar, Dy arbiter Binod Kumar Saw, Vishal Kumar Minz, Himanshu Chakraborty and others were present but no one took notice of the incident.
Finally, joint secretary Ajay Kumar received the complaint of Das.
“Yes I have got a complaint from Das and duly forwarded it to the general secretary (Neeraj Mishra) as only the association and its committee can take a decision on it,” said Ajay Kumar.
He added that when the incident happened, he was not present on campus.
Chief arbiter Dipak Kumar first denied any such incident happened in the championship. But when he was informed about the written complaint of Bhola Nath Das, he replied that since the incident was held out of the playing arena he would not comment on it.
However, AJCA general secretary Neeraj Mishra at late night admitted that he has received the complaint about the incident.
“If such an incident has happened it was unfortunate. The name of the accused has not been mentioned. I have put up the matter in the official group and the association would soon take up a decision,” said Neeraj Mishra.
East Singhbhum district chess president NK Tiwary has taken the incident seriously and has shot off a letter to AJCA for immediate probing and taking action.
“Chess is a game of gentleman and such an incident has no place in chess. Such type of incident had never happened in the state in 22 years,” said NK Tiwary.
Chess players and officials of the state are surprised that the incident took place in Sarala Birla University which belongs to AJCA president Pradeep Verma, But even after 24 hours, no action has been taken.
Pritam Singh is not only a top-rank player of the state but he has also served the association as treasurer, general secretary and chief executive officer.
