The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said on Thursday that the state body would discuss the “appropriate level” to the suspension of the Arjuna Award recipient Joydeep Karmakar with all the shooting activities in West Bengal.
The West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) Bar moves to Karamkar, currently, a rifle coach, from the activities related to shooting in the state, came after the Olympian questioned the selection for the 2025 National Games held in Uttarakhand earlier this year.
NRAI Secretary Rajiv Bhatia said, “This will be discussed at the appropriate level. This (letter of worker) came tomorrow. It will go to NRAI President.”
Karmakar represented India at rifle prone programs in various international tournaments and missed a medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016.
WBRA said, “Before going ahead with his decision to suspend him, it was showing that the worker had worked for an objectionable post on the social networking site Facebook.
Karmakar alleged that some WBRA officials were involved in corrupt practices and the selection of the state team was not appropriate for the National Games.
“The National Games is rigged in the shooting team! Onnus West Bengal Rifle Association – Goes to WBRA! They have come down a bit!”
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“Corruption in a different level! West Bengal is selecting shooters who are ignoring the 250th ranking or more 20th National Rank Shooter!”
“There is no pride in selecting 200+ ranking athletes by the West Bengal Rifle Association – WBRA ignores a national rank 20th.” WBRA issued a reason notice in an official communication, and suspended him from all shooting activities on 12 February.
Now, the worker has requested the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to step into the matter in the hope of a resolution.
“We have shown him (on 12 February) for an objectionable post on Facebook and has been stopped from any activity in the state based on the showcase until he responds to it.
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WBRA General Secretary Debkumar Samant said, “He (Karmakar) has asked for some time and we are waiting for his reply. I can’t comment further.”
“This is a standard legal process that is followed so that there is no injustice for anyone,” he said.
In 2015, Rifleman launched an Academy called JKSA (Joydeep Karmakar Shooting Academy) in Kolkata, in which hundreds of shooters get training.
