SRINAGAR, May 23: Kashmir’s star footballer Mehraj ud Din Wadoo Saturday claimed he was stopped and later detained by the police when he was heading to meet his ailing mother.
“This morning received a call about my mother’s illness. Heard she is very critical. I rushed to see her but was stopped at the Budshah Chowk bridge and taken to d police custody. Spoke to the police officer Incharge but was what he did and said was shocking,” Wadoo tweeted.
“If your mother is dying let her die. These were the words from the officer Incharge there yes to 100% correct why would you care ? But, what about that constable who started abusing me without any reason? They took my car and my phone. I was not allowed to use my phone for 2 hrs,” he said.
The former Indian football player in another tweet said, “Finally they did let me make a phone call and I was released. @JmuKmrPolice police have respect to the people like us who have contributed to the state and country for many many years. Some of ur officers are treating people like animals.”
During his playing days, Wadoo played for clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Salgaocar, Pune City, Chennaiyin, and Mumbai City. He also represented the India national team from 2005 to 2011.
He scored the winning goal against Bangladesh in the SAFF Cup finals at Karachi in December 2005. He was also a member of the Indian squad that won Nehru Cup 2007, the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 and the Nehru Cup in 2009.
Meanwhile, a police official told news agency KINS said Wadoo should lodge a complaint if he was harassed by any cop. “Restrictions are in place to stop people from rushing to markets to contain COVID-19,” he added.
