Images of the violence were captured on camera
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 where a Kabbadi tournament – a sport from India involving two teams – became the scene of a large, pre-planned fight.
Men from two rival groups took “firearms, knives, swords and clubs” to the battle, which saw children present and a number of people injured.
On Wednesday, seven men were convicted at Derby Crown Court for their part in the disorder.
Derbyshire Police
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 August 28, but footage showed them rushing to flee the venue as around 40 men became involved in a fight.
The court heard the confrontation was planned at a group meeting in Brunswick Street in Derby.
As the rival sides fought, Doodhnath Tripathi launched a ‘savage attack’ on co-accused 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 participate 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 over the origins of the violence”.
Mr Bennett quoted one of the defendants as saying in a pre-sentencing report: “All I know is that it was about Izzat (honour) of one of the parties.”
The men were sentenced as follows:
- Hardev Uppal, 34, of Sycamore Road, Tipton, Sandwell, was sentenced to ten years and ten months for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and wounding with intent
- Doodhnath Tripathi, 31, of Manor Avenue, Hounslow, was sentenced to 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 months for violent disorder and possession of a bladed article
- Baljit Singh, 33, of Lawfred Avenue, Wolverhampton, jailed for three years and nine months for violent disorder and 12 months for 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 was supposed to be a fun family day out at a sporting event but it degenerated into massive violent disorder with several people injured and many people fearing for their safety.
“These men attended this event with the specific intention of causing trouble because they had pre-planned their attack and armed themselves with weapons.
“Their actions and the level of violence on this day were abhorrent.”