Men jailed after armed violence at kabaddi match

Seven men have been jailed after violence broke out at a sporting event in Derby.

Police were called to a field in Alvaston in August 2023 when a Kabbadi tournament - a sport originating in India involving two teams - became the scene of a large, pre-planned fight.

Men from two rival groups took "firearms, knives, swords and bats" to the fight, where children were present, and a number of people were left injured.

On Wednesday, seven men were sentenced at Derby Crown Court for their part in the disorder.

Clockwise from top left: Malkeet Singh, Parminder Singh, Karamjit Singh, Doodhnath Tripathi, Baljit Singh, Jagjit Singh, Hardev Uppal

Hundreds of spectators had been present to watch the sporting action on 28 August, but footage showed them scrambling to flee the venue as about 40 men became involved in a fight.

The court heard the confrontation had been planned at a group meeting in Brunswick Street in Derby.

As the rival parties fought, Doodhnath Tripathi launched a "ferocious attack" on co-defendant Malkeet Singh with a sword.

Meanwhile Karamjit Singh, who was carrying a machete, was shot in the groin by co-defendant Hardev Uppal but continued to take part in the disorder.

Uppal was then attacked himself and suffered a fractured skull, the court heard.

Judge Jonathan Bennett said the exact cause of the fight remained unknown with a "conspiracy of silence about the origin of the violence".

Mr Bennett quoted one of the defendants as saying in a pre-sentencing report: "All I know is that it was involved Izzat [honour] from one of the parties."

The men were sentenced as follows:

• Hardev Uppal, 34, of Sycamore Road, Tipton, Sandwell, was jailed for 10 years and 10 months for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and wounding with intent

• Doodhnath Tripathi, 31, of Manor Avenue, Hounslow, was jailed for five years and 10 months for causing grievous bodily harm with intent

• Parminder Singh, 25, of Parkes Street, Smethwick, was jailed for six years and six months for possession of a prohibited firearm and violent disorder

• Malkeet Singh, 25, of Grindleford Road, Birmingham, was jailed for three years for violent disorder

• Karamjit Singh, 36, of Shakespeare Street, Sinfin, was jailed for four years and six month for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article

• Baljit Singh, 33, of Lawfred Avenue, Wolverhampton, was jailed for three years and nine months for violent disorder and carrying a bladed article

• Jagjit Singh, 31, of Bolton Road, Wolverhampton, was jailed for four years and six months for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and violent disorder

Det Ch Insp Matt Croome, the senior investigating officer, said: "This should have been a fun family day out at a sporting event but it descended into a huge violent disorder which left multiple people injured and many people in fear for their safety.

"These men attended this event with the specific intention of causing trouble having pre-planned their attack and arming themselves with weapons.

"Their actions and the level of violence seen on this day was abhorrent."