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IMAGE: Birendra Lakra was a part of India’s bronze medal profitable crew on the Tokyo Video games final yr and likewise led the nationwide facet on the Asia Cup, the place the crew gained a bronze medal. {Photograph}: Hockey India
Senior India hockey participant Birendra Lakra was on Tuesday accused of involvement within the homicide of his childhood pal Anand Toppo by the daddy of the deceased.
Lakra’s pal was discovered useless inside his flat in Bhubaneswar in February this yr and the daddy of the deceased Bandhan has accused the state police of protecting the hockey participant since he served as a DSP at one time.
Bandhan mentioned he has been struggling to file an FIR for the final 4 months however the state police didn’t assist him, forcing him to go public along with his accusations.
Lakra, 32, was a part of India’s bronze medal profitable crew on the Tokyo Video games final yr and likewise led the nationwide facet on the Asia Cup, the place the crew gained a bronze medal.
“We and Birendra have been subsequent door neighbours, so naturally Anand was his childhood pal. On February 28, we bought a name from Birendra that Anand is unconscious and he takes him to the hospital. Later he knowledgeable us that Anand is not any extra,” Bandhan Toppo mentioned.
“We requested him what had occurred however he simply instructed us to come back to Bhubaneswar. We reached there subsequent day and we have been taken to the native police station the place the officer instructed us Anand had dedicated suicide. However there was no suicide notice.
“We have been proven Anand physique’s after a lot insistence and on the primary look I noticed hand marks on his neck. However the put up mortem report mentioned it was a suicide,” mentioned Bandhan.
In latest historical past, Lakra is the second sportsperson, who has been accused of homicide. Star wrestler Sushil Kumar is already in Tihar Jail on prices of murdering fellow wrestler Sagar Dhankar, who was a junior nationwide champion.
Anand was reportedly discovered useless in flat No 401 of Ayush Radium in Infocity, Patia, which belongs to Lakra. Whereas studies claimed that solely Lakra and a woman named Manjeet Tete have been current within the flat at the moment, the sufferer’s father begged to vary.
“There have been 4 individuals within the flat throughout my son’s homicide. A 3rd particular person was additionally there who’s now being protected,” he claimed.
“I attempted to lodge an FIR on the native police station however they did not entertain me saying it’s a suicide. Then after few days I went to the DCP workplace and filed an a criticism however after ready for 4 months for any motion, we lastly determined to go to the media,” the grieving father mentioned.
“I would like justice for my son. I haven’t got belief in Odisha Police as they’re making an attempt to avoid wasting Lakra as a result of he’s a giant man and one in all them. I would like an an unbiased inquiry into the mysterious dying of my son.”
In response to sources, the incident was a fall out of a love triangle despite the fact that each Lakra, who performs as a defender, and Anand have been married.
“Anand died simply 12 days after he bought married. He bought married on February 16 and died on 28. He was pleased along with his marriage,” Bandhan claimed.
Requested if Anand had any relationship with Manjeet, Bandhan didn’t give a transparent reply.
“I do not know something like that. However they have been learning collectively in Bhubaneswar. If one thing occurred after that I do not know. Anand by no means instructed us something about her,” he mentioned.
Repeated calls to Lakra went unanswered.
It has been learnt that he’s at present within the nationwide camp in Bengaluru coaching underneath former India captain Sardar Singh and he is likely to be requested to go away the nationwide camp within the wake of the controversy.
Apart from the Olympic bronze, Lakra is a two-time Asian Video games medallist (gold in 2014 Incheon, bronze in 2018 Jakarta). He was additionally part of the silver-medal profitable Indian crew on the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Video games.
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