In a tragic incident, a 21-year-old umpire was allegedly stabbed to death following a dispute during a local cricket match in Visakhapatnam.
According to reports, the victim, Dola Ajith Babu, was officiating a match on Sunday evening alongside his friend Budumuri Chiranjeevi when an argument broke out between players over a contentious run-out decision. Although the umpires managed to calm the situation on the field, tensions reportedly lingered.
Police said a spectator, identified as Kanta Kishore (26), began verbally abusing players and umpires despite not being directly involved in the game. While the match concluded without further incident, the matter escalated later.
Kishore allegedly called the umpires to a nearby location under the pretext of resolving the dispute. Ajith Babu, Chiranjeevi and others went to meet him, but the situation turned violent.
“Another argument broke out, and Kishore suddenly pulled out a knife and attacked them,” a police officer said.
Ajith Babu suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest and collapsed on the spot. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to Apollo Hospital, where he was declared dead. Chiranjeevi and another individual sustained injuries during the attack.
Family members revealed that the dispute over a single run had already been resolved earlier in the day by village elders. However, the accused allegedly returned later under the influence of alcohol and carried out the attack.
Police have registered a murder case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father. A manhunt is currently underway, with the accused reported to be absconding.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting how a minor on-field disagreement escalated into a fatal act of violence.
