Seven men have been sentenced following their involvement in a large-scale, pre-planned brawl that erupted at a Kabaddi tournament in Derby last August, involving firearms and machetes. The violent clash between two rival groups occurred on 20 August 2023, off Elvaston Lane in Alvaston, leaving multiple people injured and spectators in fear.
The altercation, captured on video footage and drone surveillance, showed participants armed with guns, swords, and other weapons. Among those involved was Parminder Singh, 25, from the West Midlands, who was found with a loaded semi-automatic pistol and DNA evidence tying him to the weapon. He suffered a gunshot wound to his groin during the fight and has been sentenced to six years and six months for violent disorder and firearm possession.
Malkeet Singh, 24, from Wolverhampton, was assaulted and sustained head injuries. He, alongside others including Hardev Uppal, 34, who fired a gun that injured another man, received prison sentences for their roles. Uppal was jailed for 10 years and 10 months after pleading guilty to firearm possession with intent to endanger life and wounding.
Additional participants included Karamjit Singh, 36, who brandished two swords and later fled the scene, and Jagjit Singh, 31, seen firing a gun during the incident. Both men, along with Baljit Singh, 33, who wielded a bladed weapon, received prison sentences ranging from three years to over four years.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Croome described the event as a shocking display of premeditated violence, stating, “These men attended this event with the specific intention of causing trouble… The level of violence seen on this day was abhorrent.”
Detective Constable Stevie Barker, who led the investigation, expressed gratitude to the community and the numerous officers involved in the extensive inquiry, recognising the event’s deep impact on local residents and attendees. The Kabaddi event, intended to be a family-friendly sporting day, was overshadowed by the violent actions of these men, whose sentences now conclude a complex investigation into the incident.