Goa Swimming Coach Allegedly Molests 15-Year-Old Athlete, Case Filed After Video Goes Viral

Goa police on Thursday registered a case of rape and criminal intimidation against a Goa swimming coach. The coach, identified as Surajit Ganguly, allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old athlete, who was training under him.

A purported video of the incident went viral on social media. The case against the coach was registered after Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju promised stringent action. However, the police has not been able to arrest Ganguly, who is believed to have left for Bhopal.

“A case under IPC sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation), as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act(POCSO) and Goa Children's Act was registered against Ganguly,” said Kapil Nayak, Inspector of Mapusa police station in Goa.

Meanwhile, the Goa Swimming Association (GSA) has sacked him. He was appointed at Mapusa indoor swimming training facility about two and a half years ago. The GSA said that at the time of his appointment, there were no prior complaints against him.

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"...we terminated Surajit's contract immediately after watching the video. Both the girl and coach are from (West) Bengal. We appointed him because he had a good track record as a coach. There were no prior complaints against him." GSA secretary Syed Abdul Majid told news agency PTI.

In 2017, the Goa Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution congratulating him and other coaches for bringing "pride and glory to swimming and diving sports and to the state" in the 63rd National Games.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Surajit Ganguly was the swimming coach at Mapusa indoor training facility.
• A video of him molesting the athlete has gone viral on social media.
• Both the coach and the victim hailed from West Bengal.