UP sprinter Priyanka lodges formal complaint with state body

Tapan Mohanta

Ranchi, February 18 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh sprinter PriyankaPanwar, who has levelled molestation charges against AthleticsFederation of India (AFI) technical official Anu Singh duringthe ongoing 34th National Games here, today lodged a formalcomplaint with her state association.

The AFI, on the other hand, said it has not received anywritten complaint regarding the issue and, based on the mediareports, is holding an emergency meeting this evening.

"I have conveyed this episode to our Uttar Pradeshassociation. I''ve full faith on the association members andI''m sure there will be justice," Priyanka, who won the 100mbronze yesterday, told PTI in the Athletics Village.

The AFI, on its part, said it was yet to get an officialcomplaint against the said official who is working in theGames in capacity of a technical official.

"We are hearing this from the media reports only. If shehas complained it to the UP Olympics Association, then itmight reach us. As of now, based on the reports, we havecalled an emergency meeting today," officiating secretary ofthe AFI, Ravinder Chaudhary said.

A gold medallist in the South Asian Games, Priyanka hadyesterday levelled molestation charges against Kumar andclaimed that he had been sexually harassing her for the lastfour years, adding that there was no such harassment duringthe ongoing Games.

She also claimed that Kumar even threatened to drop herfrom the squad if she resisted.

Priyanka''s parents have registered an FIR inMuzaffarnagar after several of their complaints to railwayminister Mamta Banerjee and the sports ministry had failed todeter the official.

Kumar and his wife Nidhi, on the other hand, claimed thatthe athlete was blackmailing them since he barred her brother,Arun from participating in the Games because of overage. PTITAP AH