Two accused, Vijay and Karthik, involved in unruly behaviour during an Indian Super League Match between Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday, 23 November, were arrested and sent to judicial custody on Sunday, reported ANI.
In a viral video, a group of people from northeast India can be seen cringing in their seats. Among them, three women who are completely shocked at what is happening in front of them. Their seats are completely surrounded by a group of men, while one man is dancing obscenely. He is clearly targeting a woman sitting in front of him. Even as a man sitting next to the woman tries to stop him, he continues to make suggestive gestures at her, .
As the man continues to gesture obscenely, the crowd gathered around them simply gawked on in amusement. At one point, when the harasser turns his back to the victim, the woman can be seen pushing him away. But that only incites him to mock her further, as her friends try their best to keep him away from her.
The video which was first shared on a Facebook page called Indian Football Team For World CUP, has now become a talking point on fan pages associated with both Chennaiyin FC and NorthEast United FC.
Actor John Abraham, who owns the NorthEast United team, has termed the incident deeply disturbing. In a post on his team's official page, the actor said:
To the girl who was victimised by these insensitive and thoughtless people, we stand with you and you’ll never feel alone as you must’ve felt in that moment. I will personally meet you and make sure you are ok.
He further addresses the 'fans' who troubled the victims and called them 'fake'. He said:
I know that Abhishek or myself would never condone this behaviour from our own true fans. I will find you and make sure you are punished and apologise for your behaviour.
Many fans have called out the harassment, terming it racial, and a Facebook page called B-Stand Blues – Chennaiyin FC Fan Club, has apologised for the shameful incident.
“Racism and abuses have no place in the beautiful game. We implore the stadium security team to review the footage, hand stadium bans to the guilty and ensure these incidents doesn't happen again. It was a shameful night for us...” read the post.
While TNM cannot vouch for the authenticity of the video, comments under the post confirm that the incident took place.
“I was there in the ground yesterday... Not only in the ground, (but) in the train also the local people were irritating the north people, not only girls, against all of the northeast people, the guys were helpless and they can’t do anything... And one more thing is that yesterday once the match started, lots of local people enter to the gallery without any tickets (sic),” read one comment under the video.
Several others from Chennai apologised for the behaviour of the men seen in the video. Many said that this is not how Chennai fans should behave, and condemned the incident.
(With inputs from The News Minute.)
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