What should have been a celebratory journey for young athletes representing their state at a national sporting event turned into a traumatic ordeal involving armed extortion and hostage-taking, raising grave concerns about security, governance and the protection of children in conflict-affected regions of India.

Members of the Rajasthan School Wushu Team were stopped, threatened at gunpoint and extorted by armed Kuki terrorists while travelling to Imphal to participate in the 69th National School Games. The athletes were reportedly held hostage for over two hours, during which money was forcibly taken from the team.

The incident occurred as the team was transiting through areas dominated by people identifying themselves as Kuki language-speakers. According to accounts from guardians and team members, the assailants openly brandished firearms, creating an atmosphere of fear and coercion that left children traumatised.

That the victims were school-going minors, travelling under official arrangements for a nationally sanctioned sporting event, has triggered demands for accountability at multiple levels.

Athletic Excellence Amid Insecurity

Despite the ordeal, the Rajasthan School Wushu Team went on to deliver an exceptional performance at the Games, securing overall second position, with the girls’ team finishing first and the boys’ team second. Their performance is a testament to the resilience and discipline of the young athletes.

However, guardians argue that the medals now symbolise not only sporting excellence but also the failure of the state to guarantee basic safety to children representing India in a national event.

“These children won medals for the country after being held at gunpoint. That alone should shame the system,” said one of the guardians in a video that has gone viral over social media platforms like Facebook.

Extortion in a Conflict Zone: A Known Pattern

The hostage-taking and extortion fit a wider and deeply troubling pattern in Manipur, where armed groups have increasingly targeted civilians, travellers and transport corridors. What distinguishes this incident is the targeting of minors travelling under official supervision, exposing a dangerous vacuum in security coordination.

Institutional Lapses Compound the Crisis

While the armed extortion remains the most serious violation, guardians and team officials have also raised concerns over administrative negligence following the event.

According to the families, designated observers and officials had departed without ensuring confirmed return travel arrangements for the athletes. As of now, only 24 unconfirmed train tickets have reportedly been arranged for the entire group.

Guardians have questioned how minor girls are expected to endure a three-day train journey, potentially seated near toilets or standing in passageways, and why hard-earned medals and trophies are being forced into train corridors instead of being handled with dignity and care.

Beyond Medals: The Cost Paid by Children

The Rajasthan School Wushu Team’s success should have been remembered solely for sporting achievement. Instead, it now stands as a stark reminder that children in India’s conflict-affected regions are being exposed to risks that no sporting aspiration should require them to bear.

As guardians seek answers and accountability, the incident demands not silence, deflection or bureaucratic explanations but immediate investigation, prosecution of those responsible for armed extortion and institutional reforms to ensure that no child athlete is ever again placed in such danger.

Until then, the medals won in Imphal will carry a weight of failure far heavier than gold or silver. Such tragic events shall keep repeating until the Central Government authorises decisive action against the armed Kuki extremists.

Reference

1. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1598036454728512

Image provided by the author.