Olympian Joydeep Karmakar barred from shooting activities in West Bengal

In a surprising move, the West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) has suspended Arjuna award recipient and now rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in the state.

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The decision came after Karmakar questioned selections for the 2025 National Games held in Uttarakhand early this year.

In a social media post, Karmakar alleged that some WBRA officials were involved in corrupt practices while selecting West Bengal team.

The WBRA in an official communication issued him a show cause notice and suspended him from all shooting activities on February 12.

Now, Karmakar has requested the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to step in the matter in the hope of a resolution.

Alleging that the WBRA has extended this suspension towards his academy shooters, in a letter to NRAI, Karmakar has requested to get the order nullified.

“…It goes without saying that such undemocratic and vindictive behavior from pivotal state shooting association officials is dangerous for our sport & sportspersons and might well cause huge damage to shooting sport in the region,” Karmakar wrote in his appeal.

“Being an Olympian who served the country & NRAI being the apex body of shooting sport in the country, I would appeal to you/ NRAI, to take necessary steps so that such unprecedented & disrespectful ‘suspension’ is summarily nullified and action be taken so that no to repeat such shameful acts where an Olympian as well as several 100s of shooters are banned to play their own sport!,” the 2012 Olympian added.

NRAI’s office secretary Rajiv Bhatia acknowledged receiving Karmarkar's appeal. “We have received his mail in this matter yesterday and it would be put up for consideration at appropriate level,” Bhatia told The Tribune on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, WBRA president Verinder Kumar Dhall dug in his heels and said Karmakar’s action deserved such a stern action.

“He has been suspended for obscene, unparliamentary and vulgar language against the WBRA office bearers and so has been barred from all shooting activities,” Dhall, who serves as a senior vice president of the NRAI, said.