Strap: Sportsperson from Assam comes out about sexual assault by Nipon Das, who coached gold medallist Hima Das

Guwahati: The victory of 18-year-old athlete Hima Das from Dhing, Nagaon (Assam) brought glory to the nation as she won the Gold medal in the 400 m race at the World Under-20 Championship organised by International Association of Athletics Federation in Finland. Nipon Das, her coach, has been dubbed as the man behind her success as he led a daughter of a rice farmer to fulfill her dreams. However, the same coach is also facing charges of sexual assault levelled by another athlete he coached in Guwahati, who has finally decided to speak up.

Neha Das (name changed), a track athlete who has represented the state at national inter-school competition in past, has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by coach Nipon Das. The incident took place at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati during her training session. She said that the coach always tried to touch her during training but she mostly considered it an accident. “On December 2017, I participated in the national level competition organised by School Games Federation of India in Haryana and during the return journey as I was getting down from the train, he hugged me tightly and I thought that that was a normal hug from Sir,” she said.

The athlete recalled that on May 18 after she had finished her gym session, she went to her coach, Nipon Das, to seek permission to go to the washroom. The coach said he would escort her to the washroom as she wouldn’t know where it is located. After showing her the way to the washroom, he entered it himself saying he will check if anyone was inside. When he had confirmed that nobody was inside, he told her to use the washroom. Sensing something was off, the athlete asked Nipon Das to come out of the washroom but the coach forcefully dragged her inside.

“He undressed and jumped on my body. He also tried to remove my clothes and threatened that if revealed the incident to anyone, he would suspend me from the training and the sports event," she alleged. After being sexually assaulted and threatened, she went home and told her mother that she would not go to train from the next day.

Out on bail the next day

Neha had started training with Nipon Das a year ago and had felt unease under his mentorship since beginning, but never reported it. She alleged that the coach has assaulted other girls as well in past but no one has been able to muster up the courage to speak up and complain about him as he has the power to ruin their sporting careers.

The family of the victim filed a case against Nipon Das at the Basistha police station on 22nd June under Sections 342/354/376/511 and 506. Although cases filed under Section 376 are non-bailable, Das was released on bail a day after his arrest. While speaking about the case Officer-in-charge of Basistha police station, Nabajit Das Baghri, said that the case has not been established against the accused but it has been attempted under Section 376. "When a case is registered, various charges are applied for the investigation, but it doesn't mean that the accused is charged under all the sections. The accused is arrested under a certain section after the final investigation is through and when the case is established. The case of Nipon Das is under investigation and he is under police observation till the investigation is over," said Baghri.

Asked to train in evening to avoid Nipon Das

A special investigation meeting was called for by the Chief Minister's office on July 18 at which coach Nipon Das, assistant coach Nabajit Malakar, and the complainant's family were summoned for interrogation by Sadhana Hojai, Secretary to the Government of Assam, Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare Department. Hojai said that the enquiry regarding the matter against Nipon Das is still in process. "We have interrogated the accused, the assistant coach Nabajit Malakar as well as the victim and her parents. We will take action if we find the accused guilty," said Hojai.

The complainant athlete had shared details of the incident with assistant coach Nabajit Malakar. Although he acknowledged her grievance, Malakar said that he is helpless as he is only an assistant coach.

Neha’s father said that the assistant coach Malakar has asked her to come in the evening instead of attending morning session in order to keep her away from Nipon Das. He added that they will cooperate with the departments concerned for investigation into the incident. "Our daughter should get justice and the accused should be punished so that no such incident could take place further."

The girl’s family claim they have also written to authorities at the Sports Authority of India, but haven’t received any response yet, and that Nipon Das holds enough political clout to avoid a detailed fair probe into the accusation.

Women Activist Sumitra Hazarika said that they have asked the Sports Authority of Assam and India to suspend the coach immediately to protect the future of women sportspersons. She said that on one hand, people celebrate rare achievers like Hima Das and on the other, girls in sports are being harassed by those around them, which ruins their dreams.

"We want more athletes like Hima Das and if these kind of incidents take place then we will lose our players. To stop such incidents, strict action needs to be taken by the departments concerned. There should be a cell in the Sports Authority of Assam to handle such cases. But, it seems that even if such cells have been set up, they are not functioning actively," said Hazarika.