Haryana Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons after the family of a teenage basketball player filed a complaint. The boy had died last month when the iron pole of a basketball hoop fell on him during practice session in Rohtak district, an official said on Sunday.
The family of Hardik Rathi, who had earlier competed in the sub-junior national championships, filed the complaint on Saturday, a Rohtak police officer said.
“His father filed a complaint on Saturday and based on that, an FIR has been lodged against unknown persons under the Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the BNS,” Lakhanmajra SHO Samarjeet Singh said.
“The complaint seeks action against anyone whose negligence led to the incident,” he added.
Hardik and another youth died in similar accidents in Haryana last month after the iron pole of the hoop collapsed on them during practice.
The two tragedies in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts sparked concerns about the condition of sports infrastructure in the state. While 16-year-old Hardik died in Rohtak, Aman, 15, who was injured in Bahadurgarh, passed away during treatment at PGIMS Rohtak.
Hardik’s father, Sandeep Rathi, recently told mediapersons in Rohtak that the family had repeatedly complained about the condition of the village playground but the administration did not act. “Had they taken action on time, my child would not have died,” he said.
In Bahadurgarh, Aman’s father Suresh also filed a police complaint, alleging negligence by officials responsible for maintaining the play area. He demanded action against those accountable.
Both incidents triggered anger across Haryana, with opposition parties criticising the BJP government and grieving families joining them in blaming authorities for poor sports facilities in the state.
After the tragedies, Haryana Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam said that departments responsible for maintaining sports grounds, such as education and panchayat, must now give an undertaking confirming the safety of the grounds.
The minister also held a review meeting with sports department officials in Panchkula, where he said Rs 114 crore had been released for repairing, upgrading, and redeveloping stadiums and playgrounds across the state.
He added that a major share of funds available with district sports councils would be used for extensive renovation of playgrounds.
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