Jamshedpur, July 24: Recent fracas over deputy superintendent of police Arif Imam thrashing an official of Jharkhand Athletic Association (JAA) has put the JAA officials in a spot of bother.

JAA, which has decided to organise the East Zone (August 16-18) and inter-zone (August 20-22) championship in the steel city, are now faced with a fresh problem related to security of the participating athletes.

Parents of these athletes have approached the officials and asked for assurance from them that the security of their wards would not be compromised during the championship.

Source said that the incident has left such a mark that some parents are also thinking of not allowing their children to compete in the meets.

“I am really concerned about the safety of my child. If a senior official of the association can be assaulted what guarantee is there for the athletes,” said father of a budding sprinter from the city on condition of anonymity.

JAA president Madhu Kant Pathak confirmed that he has been flooded with questions related to security from anxious parents about what measures are being adopted for the meet.

“The parents are disturbed by the recent incident. Attack on one of our senior functionaries has certainly cast doubts on parents regarding the safety and security of their children. But we have assured them that adequate security arrangements and measures would be made during the proceedings at JRD Tata Sports Complex,” he said.