An Indian minister of state, belonging to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sparked outrage after suggesting that two Australian women cricketers, who were molested in Indore last week, would “learn a lesson” from the incident, implying that players should be more careful if they venture out without security.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said star athletes often underestimate the public frenzy and have to factor that into their moves.
“Sometimes players do not realize their popularity… they have to be careful. This incident happened; it is a lesson for everyone,” he said, adding that teams should inform security or administration “before leaving.”
He reiterated to local media that while there was a safety lapse, players also share the responsibility of coordinating movements.
Two members of the Australian women’s cricket team were allegedly harassed and inappropriately touched by a motorcyclist as they walked to a cafe in the central Indian city of Indore on Thursday morning. This led to a swift police operation and an arrest within hours, officials and local media said. The players reported the incident to team security, who filed a first information report.
Police said the man approached the players near Indore’s Ring Road, away from the team hotel and the Holkar Stadium, where Australia played their Women’s Cricket World Cup matches.
About six hours after the report, a suspect with a previous criminal record was arrested; Authorities said he faces charges of sexual assault and stalking under India’s new penal code.
The cricket authorities of Cricket Australia and India have condemned the incident. The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, which oversees the Indore venue, apologized and called the event a stain on the city’s reputation for hospitality. Indian board officials said they would review and tighten security protocols for events involving players in coordination with police.
International media outlets including AP and Reuters said the suspect was tracked down with the help of local surveillance and arrested the same day.
Australia remained in Indore for back-to-back World Cup matches against England and South Africa. The incident has reignited debate over off-field safety for female athletes on tour, with both national boards indicating additional measures could be put in place for the remainder of the tournament.
