Minor Shooter Raped, Accused National Coach Suspended

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Faridabad
• Jan 08, 2026
• 25

A minor shooter from Faridabad, Haryana, has accused her coach of rape. She alleges that the coach, under the pretext of discussing her performance, lured her to a room in a five-star hotel in Faridabad and raped her. He also threatened to ruin her career if she told anyone about the incident. The minor girl remained in shock for approximately 21 days. After this, she mustered up the courage to tell her mother the entire incident. A police complaint was filed on January 6th. Faridabad police have registered a case under the POCSO Act and have begun an investigation. Police officials say that hotel staff are also being questioned in the matter. Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association of India has taken cognizance of the matter and suspended the accused coach, Ankush Bhardwaj. The association stated that Ankush will remain suspended until the investigation is complete. Now know the whole matter sequentially... A shooting competition was underway: A minor shooter, resident of a Noida colony, filed a rape complaint against coach Ankush Bhardwaj at the NIT Women's Police Station in Faridabad on January 6. She alleged that a national-level shooting competition was underway at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi on December 16. Called to hotel room: According to the victim's mother, her 17-year-old daughter also participated in the competition. Initially, everything went well at the shooting range, but after the match ended, Ankush asked her daughter to stay at the shooting range. Her daughter's match was scheduled to start at 10:30 am. Called on the pretext of improving her game: After this, the coach did not come to the shooting range. He called the daughter and invited her to a five-star hotel in Surajkund, Faridabad. The coach said he wanted to discuss her endurance and skill in the sport, which would help improve her game. Without thinking about her career, the daughter booked a cab and went to meet the coach at the hotel. Threatened to end her career: The woman said that when her daughter reached the hotel balcony, the coach asked her to go to the room. He raped her in the room under the pretext of cracking her back. When she protested, the accused coach, Ankush, threatened to end her career and harm her family. The athlete 's family says that after the accident, their daughter wouldn't talk to anyone. She couldn't even concentrate on her practice. She kept the incident a secret from the family for 21 days. Her mother said, "She mustered up the courage to tell me everything." The victim has been practicing shooting since 2017 and started training with coach Ankush only in July 2025. Faridabad Police spokesperson Yashpal Yadav, who is investigating the case, said that a case has been registered based on the girl's mother's complaint. CCTV footage from the hotel is being collected. Statements from hotel staff are also being recorded. The girl will also receive counseling. An incident has also happened with the shooter from Bhiwani... Before the incident involving this minor shooter from Faridabad, a similar incident had occurred with a shooter from Bhiwani. A 22-year-old female shooter from Bhiwani was also raped in a Faridabad hotel. The hotel where the shooter was raped had previously hosted a party, attended by Jyoti, a female shooter from Rajasthan, her Haryanvi boyfriend Gaurav, and his friend Satendra. During this time, the Bhiwani shooter was given some intoxicating substance. The drinking party began around 9 p.m., while the local police were called at 3 a.m. The victim made the call. It's believed she regained consciousness after being intoxicated for about six hours and then informed the police control room. Not only this, she courageously locked the three accused, including her friend and shooter, in the hotel room. They were later handed over to the police. Sarai Khwaja police also checked the hotel's CCTV footage and records, which revealed that all four had arrived in a car.