Police arrest man for assaulting teen during cricket match in Pulwama

PULWAMA — Police has arrested the 45-year-old accused man Younis Sheikh from Puchal village of southern Kashmir’s Pulwama district for assaulting and grievously injuring an 18-year-old youth during a cricket in Lajoora village.

Official sources said that police have filed an FIR No. 102 under sections 321 (wrongful restraint) and 323 IPC (causing hurt) against Younis Sheikh in Police Station Pulwama and put him behind bars.

On Tuesday, Younis Sheikh assaulted Faizan Qayoom of Ratnipora in Lajoora cricket stadium during a cricket match after players from two opposing teams had an argument over the inclusion of a player into the Ratnipora team.

Eyewitness said that Younis assaulted and smashed Faizan on his head with a wicket and grievously injured him. Faizan was rushed to SKIMS Soura by his teammates, where he is under treatment and doctors are monitoring his condition.

Local cricketers said that Younis Sheikh from Puchal is owning Haji 11 cricket team from Puchal and is known for his notorious and infamous reputation in the area.

Local teams have also demanded a complete ban on Younis and his team for participating in any tournament in the district. “His violent behaviour will jeopardise the life of young cricketers if he is allowed to participate in cricket tournaments. For the safety of young players, he must be banned by all tournament organisers henceforth,” several cricketers in Pulwama said.

Sources said that Younis Sheikh is running a soil mining mafia in Puchal, Lajoora and Malangpora villages where this mafia has wreaked havoc on the local Karewas due to illegal mining.

They said that to put a social veil on his illegal soil mining in the area, Younis Sheikh is sponsoring the Haji 11 team to hide his illegal earning and gain social sanctity in the area.