Three jailed after armed violence at kabaddi match

Three more 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.

Damanjit Singh, Boota Singh and Raj T Singh were sentenced on Friday at Derby Crown Court. It comes after seven men were jailed in 2024 for their part in the violence.

Derbyshire Police said Boota Singh was seen on video footage from the event running after the opposing group.

The force added while he did not have a weapon with him at the time of the violence, when police stopped his car two days later, officers found two machetes in the boot.

Footage, officers said, also showed Damanjit Singh and Raj T Singh with large knives during the disorder.

At a trial at Derby Crown Court in November, Boota Singh, 35, of Witham Drive, Derby was found guilty of violent disorder. He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon at the start of the trial.

Damanjit Singh, 35, of Powell Place, Tipton was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. Raj T Singh, 42, of Patterdale Drive, Huddersfield was found guilty of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

On Friday, Boota Singh was jailed for four years and Damanjit Singh - who is also subject to automatic deportation - was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.

At the same hearing, Raj T Singh was jailed for three years and 10 months.

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