Rock attack on Australian team bus in Guwahati leaves Assam government red-faced
GUWAHATI: The Assam government and Guwahati police profusely apologised to the Australian cricket team after a stone was thrown through the window of the team bus on Tuesday night.
Coach Darren Lehman injured his hand by the stone, thrown by an unknown bystander when the team was going back to its hotel after defeating India at the second T20 international in Guwahati's Barsapara stadium.
Assam’s finance, health and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma apologised over the incident. He tweeted: “Our deep apology. The people of Assam never endorse such behaviour. We will punish the guilty”.
At the directive of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, sports minister Naba Kumar Doley, chief secretary VK Pipersenia and director general of police (DGP) Mukesh Sahay met the Australian cricketers at Hotel Radisson Blu where they are lodged and apologised for the incident.
The DGP told the New Indian Express that two persons have been detained in connection with the incident.
Guwahati Police Commissioner Hiren Nath said the incident is being investigated.
"The driver of the bus said he heard a loud noise when the bus reached the Lokhra area. Soon, an Australian cricketer entered my cabin and informed me of the incident. I don’t know how it all happened,” he told reporters.
According to reports, Australian coach Darren Lehman suffered minor injuries in his hand in the incident. However, the reports could not be confirmed by officials.
The incident came to light after Australian opener Aaron Finch tweeted a picture of a broken glass window of the bus.
“Pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel!!” he wrote on his Twitter account. It was retweeted by stand-in captain David Warner.