The stalking and sexual harassment of two members of the Australian women’s cricket team in Indore has sparked a political row in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress described the incident as “proof of the failure of the Bharatiya Janata Party government”.

“This incident not only brings shame to the country but also tears apart the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ [Guest is God],” the party said in a social media post.

The Trinamool Congress said that the episode has tarnished India’s image internationally.

“Two Australian women cricketers were molested in an ICC-organised world cricket championship in BJP-ruled Indore,” PTI quoted TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh as saying. “This happens during the double-engine government rule. It has lowered our heads before the entire world.”

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a statement that police acted swiftly and arrested the accused within a few hours, PTI reported.

“This action by the state government and police sends a clear message: women’s safety and law enforcement are paramount, and criminals will not be spared,” he was quoted as saying.

The incident took place on Thursday morning when the two players were walking to a cafe near their hotel in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

The cricketers are in India for the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup. The Australian team had played England at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday and later faced South Africa at the same venue on Saturday.

The players, staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel, were walking along Khajrana Road when a man, identified as Aqueel Khan, allegedly followed them on a motorcycle, touched one of them inappropriately, and fled the scene.

The accused was arrested later that night based on his motorcycle registration number, which a bystander had noted down.

Khan has been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita pertaining to assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

A complaint was filed at the MIG Police Station by the team’s security manager, Danny Simmons.

He told the police that at 11.08 am he received a live location notification from one of the players, followed by a call reporting the incident.

The players were then escorted back to their hotel by police and liaison officers.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Himani Mishra later met the players and recorded their statements, the newspaper reported.

Cricket Australia also confirmed that the two players were “approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a cafe in Indore,” The Indian Express reported.

Board of Control for Cricket in India Secretary Devajit Saikia said that it was a “very condemnable but stray incident”, The Indian Express reported.

“India is known for its hospitality and care,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “We have zero tolerance for such incidents. We appreciate the state police for their prompt action to nab the culprit. Let the law take its course to punish the culprit. We assure to revisit our safety protocols if required to further tighten the security.”

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