Ind vs Ban, Second Test – Bangladesh fan accused of assault at Green Park, changes form after hospitalisation

It was during the lunch break that Robi, with tiger stripes painted on his face, was seen walking out of the gate near the gate to the communications staff. Security officials and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) officials got him a seat, gave him water, and soon arranged for an ambulance to take him to a medical facility. Videos recorded at the time by ESPNcricinfo showed Robi in distress, and while his words were slurred, he revealed that he had been hit in the back of the waist and elbowed in the ribs. He appeared to be short of breath and struggling.

At the hospital later, Robi told the media, “I wasn’t feeling well. The police brought me to the hospital, and I feel better after treatment.”

Kalyanpur’s assistant commissioner of police, Abhishek Pandey, in a statement said Robi’s health “suddenly deteriorated” and “reports of an altercation are baseless; he injured himself when he fell”. “The coordinator is attached to him [Robi] so that he can get help whenever he needs it,” added Pandey. Police sources also said that Robi was examined several times, and was found to be in good health. At the time of filing this report, Robi was still in the hospital.

All this happened during the protests against Bangladesh playing a Test match in Kanpur. As on the eve of the match, activists linked to far-right political parties staged protests within a kilometer of the stadium on Friday. The protests are in response to reports of attacks on members of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh over the past month and a half. It has been a turbulent time in Bangladesh, since July, when student-led protests led to the end of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government.

Incidentally, Shoaib Ali Bukhari, Bangladesh’s famous fan who travels the world with the team, was allegedly mistreated during their ODI World Cup match against India in Pune last year.