India's leading spinner Harbhajan Singh was injured on Monday after being assaulted by police outside the team hotel, witnesses said. "Harbhajan is bleeding profusely and his hands are bruised," an employee of the hotel told AFP.

India are due to take on Zimbabwe in the fifth and final one-day international in this eastern city on Tuesday with the two teams locked 2-2.

Witnesses said the trouble began when a Delhi-based sports photographer wanted to go inside the hotel to meet Singh. "When the policemen didn't allow the photographer entry inside the hotel, Singh came down to the gate and asked the security to let him in as the photographer had a valid pass from the Indian team manager," the witness said. "What followed was total chaos with policemen assaulting both Singh and the photographer, hitting them very badly."

The Indian Cricket Board has lodged a complaint with Assam state's government. "It was a very unfortunate incident and we have told the district magistrate and other senior officials about the matter," Indian team manager Sunil Khanna said. "Harbhajan was already carrying an injury in his finger and the scuffle that followed with the police further aggravated the wounds. There was some bleeding and he was given first aid by a doctor."

Team officials said most of the players were "very upset" after the incident.

City magistrate Absar Hazarika told AFP "the entire incident was very unfortunate".

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