Since 2018, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has been under fire for reportedly dismissing allegations of bullying and sexual assault against Manu M, a coach for girls’ cricket. A number of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) charges against the coach have surfaced as a result of recent discoveries.
The first reports of bullying are said to have been brought up in a KCA apex council meeting in 2018, which is when the controversy involving Manu M initially began. Even when a sexual abuse claim came to light in 2022, the association permitted Manu to continue coaching in spite of these early warning flags.
It has been said that the KCA handled the incident carelessly, possibly putting the safety of young female cricket players in jeopardy.
“A parent filed the first complaint with us in June of this year regarding an incident that happened in 2018.” Before telling us, they had already filed a complaint with Childline. However, Manu had submitted his resignation in April, stating that he had accepted a job offer in Bengaluru, the home of his family, according to KCA secretary Vinod S. Kumar, who was cited by The News Minute.
I have seen girls walking away from Manu M crying: Former player at the KCA
According to the association, Manu left in April 2024, citing a Bengaluru employment opportunity. Evidence, however, points to the fact that he was still given a coaching assignment for the KCA TCM Pink T20 Challengers 2024 competition in May.
“This guy ought to have been relieved of his coaching duties for girls, at the very least. They have a tight relationship. Manu belongs to a club that Vinod founded, according to Ajith Kumar.
It has also been revealed that the KCA does not have the appropriate procedures in place to deal with such delicate matters.
“I’ve seen girls leaving him in tears, but I assumed that might be because he reprimanded them as part of coaching.” Two girls, who were ten or twelve years old, later informed me what had transpired. Former KCA player and cricketer Akhil told Mathrubhumi News, “I took their video and went to the Cantonment police station.”
The organisation relies on an ethics committee and an ombudsman, neither of whom is qualified to handle allegations of sexual abuse involving minors, in place of an internal committee, as required under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.
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