Already under the scanner of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after being caught in the doping maze in its previous three editions, the Kabaddi World Cup version-IV would be held under the Punjab Police’s vigilant eye.
The move came after the recent disclosures regarding the alleged involvement of kabaddi players’ in the drug trade by those arrested in the multi-crore drug racket recently. Sources informed The Pioneer that during the mega sports event, starting from November 30, the people connected with the drug trafficking, including the players, leaders, from different parts of the world, would conglomerate in the State.
The State police would keep a watchful eye on teams from Canada, England, America and other countries from Europe. “The police would also keep an eye on the NRIs coming from these countries for the event,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity. After interrogation of the former Punjab police deputy superintendent of police and Arjuna awardee wrestler Jagdish Singh alias Bhola — the mastermind of the drug racket, his alleged links with Canadian partners in drug smuggling, many of them Kabaddi players — former or present — have came into light. It was revealed during investigations that sports clubs, particularly Kabaddi, based in Canada and Europe, were used for distribution of contraband consignments.
Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HS Mann had stated that Bhola, during investigations on supply chain of his cartel, disclosed that the recipients of contraband consignments of his network include promoter of Azad Kabaddi Club, a famous sports outfit in Toronto, Dara Singh Mathoda hailing from Jalandhar district, and a former Kabaddi player Sarabjit Singh from Khanna district — both presently staying in Vancouver.
Besides, Bhola also named Nirankara Singh Dhillon, hailing from Jalandhar district-now in Brampton, who is the father-in-law of Kulwant Singh arrested in Anoop Singh Kahlon case, and Harbans Sidhu from ludhiana district-now in Toronto. Already the information regarding the foreign recipients, particularly in Canada, was shared and jointly developed with the Canadian authorities.
“The information has been shared with the Police liaison Officer in Canadian High Commission at New Delhi in a high level meeting presided over by the state Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-Intelligence, and further developed by the Punjab Police,” stated the official. The officer said that the particulars of recipients in UK and Holland have also been developed, “details of which will be revealed later after the requisite follow-up action with the concerned authorities in India and abroad”.
Besides Punjab, various organizations in different countries — Canada, England, America and several countries from Europe — also conduct Kabaddi tournaments. It has been learnt that these tournaments were being used by such traffickers for drug trade. “We would also get in touch with the police authorities of these countries where these tournaments and events are being used as a platform for drug trafficking,” added the official.
The fourth World Cup Kabaddi is scheduled to start from November 30 till December 14, where a total of 12 men teams and eight women teams would vie for the championship. Men’s teams include Argentina, USA, England, Canada, Pakistan, Sierra leone, Iran, Denmark, Kenya, Scotland, Spain, and India, while the Women Teams included India, USA, England, Denmark, Iran, Mexico, Kenya and Pakistan.