On Saturday, however, something very shocking happened during a local match played between teams from two villages–Simraina and Beekapur–in Sultanpur district.    

The proceedings turned into a scene of crime soon after Amit Singh, the umpire, adjudged batsman Arun Kumar of the Simraina team leg before wicket, upholding an appeal from the fielding side. Kumar, however, lodged a strong protest and refused to leave the crease as
he thought he was wrongly given out leg before wicket.

When Kumar did not leave the crease for about five-six minutes, an angry umpire Singh allegedly caught him by the collar and forced him out of the playing arena.

What happened next was shocking, perhaps without any precedent as well. Ashish, one of Kumar’s teammates, gave vent to his and the team’s anger at the forcible eviction of Kumar, took out a pistol and fired twice at umpire Singh, according to the police. Singh was rushed to Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Medical University medical college here for emergency treatment and he is in a critical condition.

If the police are to be believed, the shooting incident might not necessarily be spontaneous one. It might just be a case of carrying the off-field rivalry on to the playing field.

According to  sources, both Ashish and Singh have criminal background and nurse an old rivalry. The fact that Ashish had come for the match armed with a pistol lent credence to this theory.

Singh faces cases of loot and extortion and is out on bail while Ashish has several criminal cases registered against him at Kurebhar police station in Sultanpur district.
“Ashish may have been wanting to settle scores with Singh and the dispute during the cricket match may have given him an opportunity,” the police sources added.

The police have registered a case registered against Ashish, who has been absconding after the incident and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.