Indian Heavens Premier League fiasco at Bakshi Stadium a scam, organisers must be booked: Altaf Thakur

Srinagar : BJP Jammu and Kashmir spokesman Altaf Thakur on Sunday came down heavily on the organisers of the so-called Indian Heavens Premier League (IHPL) Cricket Tournament held recently at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, calling it a “scam that has brought shame to the sports fraternity of Kashmir.”

In a strongly worded statement, Thakur said the reports of players fleeing midway, and local Kashmiris—including ground staff, umpires, and service providers—remaining unpaid are “deeply disturbing and unacceptable.”

“This entire episode reeks of mismanagement, deceit, and possible fraud. How was such a mega event allowed inside a government-owned facility without proper consent and approval? Was the Sports Minister unaware of this? If permission was not granted, then who allowed the organisers to occupy Bakshi Stadium?” Thakur questioned.

He said the organisers of the tournament must be identified, exposed, and booked under law for cheating the people of Kashmir and tarnishing the image of the region’s sporting spirit. “This is not just a case of unpaid dues — this is an insult to our youth and to the dignity of every Kashmiri who worked in good faith,” Thakur said.

The BJP leader demanded a high-level probe into the entire episode to fix responsibility and ensure that every individual who provided services — from players and umpires to vendors and ground staff — is paid their rightful dues immediately.

Thakur said the incident reflects a total collapse of coordination between the concerned authorities and called on the J&K administration to ensure that no private event is allowed in government sports facilities without formal approval and due diligence.

“Sports in Jammu and Kashmir must stand for honesty, opportunity, and transparency — not for fraud and exploitation. Those who played with the trust of our youth must face strict action,” Thakur asserted.