In a deeply disturbing incident, two Australian women cricketers visiting India for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup were allegedly stalked and molested by a motorcycle-borne man while out jogging in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The assault took place around 11 am on October 23, near the Radisson Blu Hotel where the players were staying. Swift police action led to the arrest of the accused, identified as Aqeel, a resident of the Khajrana area, within 24 hours of the complaint being lodged.

According to Indore Police, the two players were jogging toward a nearby café when the accused began following them on his motorcycle. He allegedly attempted to grab one of the players, fled the scene, and returned moments later to assault the other cricketer. Shocked and frightened, the players resisted and immediately contacted their security manager, Danny Simmons, sharing their live location for help. Simmons rushed to the spot while a bystander intervened, noted the suspect’s license plate, and alerted the police.

The complaint was subsequently filed by Simmons with assistance from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association’s Chief Administrative Officer, Rohit Pandit. Based on the evidence and CCTV footage collected from the area, the police traced Aqeel and arrested him the following evening. The case was registered at the MIG Police Station under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to stalking and outraging a woman’s modesty.

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Speaking about the development, Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya confirmed the arrest and said that the accused has a prior record of similar offenses. “The suspect was tracked using CCTV footage and witness inputs. He was arrested in less than a day,” Dandotiya stated, adding that further investigation into his background and potential links to previous incidents is underway.

The incident came merely a day after Australia’s victory over England in Indore’s Holkar Stadium, casting a shadow on security arrangements for visiting international players. The local administration has since assured tighter vigilance around team accommodations and practice zones, calling the episode a “serious breach that will not be tolerated.”

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