Security beefed up
13 sainiks held in Delhi
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 19 — The Delhi Police has worked out a multi-pronged strategy to provide foolproof security to Pakistani cricketers, even as 13 Shiv Sainiks were arrested, including seven for attempting to vandalise the Pakistan High Commission in the Capital today.

Highlighting the strategy of the police for the security of the Pakistani cricket team arriving here on January 21, Delhi Police Commissioner, V.N. Singh said "the visiting cricket team will face no problems. We will provide complete security here."

The touring team is scheduled to arrive here on January 21 before leaving for Gwalior, from where it will return to Delhi on January 26. Then, they will leave for Chennai where they play the first cricket Test and return to the Capital on February 2.

The Police Commissioner’s assurance comes in the wake of the recent threat by the Shiv Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray, of not allowing the Pakistani cricket team to play in the country at any cost.

Earlier in the day, a group of Shiv Sainiks threw soda bottles and shouted slogans outside the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi’s diplomatic enclave protesting the proposed India tour by the Pakistani cricket team.

The protesters marched towards the Mission, this afternoon shouting anti-Pakistan, anti-Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and pro-Shiv Sena slogans and threw soda bottles from a distance even as security personnel posted outside the Mission tried to stop them.

After the protest, which was over in a few minutes, some Sainiks boarded a city bus from opposite the Pakistan mission while the others fled the spot.

The bus was stopped by security personnel and taken to the nearby Chanakyapuri police station.

Six persons were detained, the police said, adding they had been charged with unlawful gathering and abetment.

In another related incident, seven Shiv Sainiks were arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport after they had surveyed the premises where the Pakistani cricketers could be confronted with, when they arrive later this week.

Five of the Sainiks were employed with an agency whose personnel had access to the airport premises.

The police said Shiv Sainiks, all residents of Delhi, were arrested when the driver of the taxi they had hired to leave the airport heard them talking about their plan and confronted them.

The seven men — Kishen Chander, Vikram Singh, Anil Kumar, Anil Puri, Anand Singh Bisht, Pranab Kumar and Rohtas — had gathered outside the airport and surveyed the entire area after presuming where the Pakistani cricketers would be alighting and waiting for their luggage. Once this was over, the Sainiks hired the taxi and started discussing their plan.

The police said the taxi driver, an ardent cricket fan, heard the conversation and criticised the Shiv Sena for trying to bring harm to the sport and sportsmen.

An altercation ensued between the Sainiks and the driver. It was then that the driver spotted a police controlroom van and reported the matter. The Sainiks were later arrested by the police as a preventive measure.

MUMBAI (PTI): The police has got definite clues about the ransacking of the Indian cricket board headquarters here yesterday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde today said.

Talking to reporters, Mr Munde, however, refused to divulge the details "since the investigations are at an initial stage"

Mr Munde, who also holds the home portfolio, replied in the negative when asked whether the incident proved that the Police Intelligence had failed and said the attack was not anticipated since no Indo-Pak match was scheduled in the state.

To a query whether the Sena was involved in the attack, he said, "I am aware of the Sena’s statement disassociating itself from the incident. However, investigations are on and whosoever the culprits may be and whichever organisation they might belong to, stern action would be taken against them".

Sena forms ‘suicide squad’

NEW DELHI, Jan 19 (UNI) — The Shiv Sena today claimed that it had constituted a "task force" to disrupt the forthcoming India-Pakistan cricket series and warned that it would "target" Indian players if they played against Pakistan.

At a meeting here, the party decided that those Indian cricketers who played against Pakistan, would be considered ‘traitors’ and accordingly dealt with by the Sena, the Delhi Yuva Shiv Sena Vice-President, Mr Mangat Ram Munde, said.

The meeting was attended by the Yuva Shiv Sena leaders, including the four sainiks who had been arrested last year-end for damaging the Regal cinema building and were released from jail yesterday, he said and claimed that they were ‘determined’ to disrupt the match and had hired a helicopter for the purpose.

The Yuva Shiv Sena also claimed that it had constituted a 51-member ‘suicide squad’ to disrupt the match and they would conduct self immolation in front of the Prime Minister’s house if the match was played. The Shiv Sena claimed that nearly 40,000 sainiks would be coming to Delhi from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

The Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr V.N. Singh, however, said he was 'confident' that the match would be played without any disturbance. He said the security set-up had been divided into four parts — security on arrival at the airport, security en route to the hotel where they would be staying, security at the hotel and security during their interaction with the media.

Even during the match, adequate security would be provided and besides police personnel, plainclothesmen would also be deployed. He, however, declined to reveal how many police personnel would be deployed.

He said no help would be sought from Central police organisations and added that ‘it is our responsibility and we will see to it that absolute security is ensured.’ The police chief said more than 30 Shiv Sainiks had been arrested so far in apprehension of breach of the peace.

On the number of Shiv Sainiks coming in to disrupt the match, he said though he did not have the exact details, preliminary information said that Shiv Sainiks would be coming in from some neighbouring states. ‘We know that Shiv Sainiks would be coming in from neighbouring states. But we do not know exactly which route they will take,’ the Police Commissioner said.

Guards for Azhar, Sachin

MUMBAI, Jan 19 (UNI) — India’s cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and chairman of selection committee Ajit Wadekar will be provided with security in the wake of the recent incidents of vandalism involving ransacking of the BCCI office here yesterday and digging of pitch at Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi, according to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde.

Mr Munde, who also holds the Home portfolio, told reporters that security of the players had been stepped up and armed police personnel would be with them till the situation normalises. Both, Azhar and Sachin are currently touring New Zealand.

The security comes following the Sport Minister Prataprao Jadhav’s statement that either the Indian players boycott the tour or be ready to face the consequences. Chief Minister Manohar Joshi has also taken a serious view of the statement and told reporters that "he (Jadhav) should not have said it without consulting party leaders." Mr Jadhav has since denied having made the statement.

When asked about Monday’s incident of ransacking of the BCCI office at the north stand of Brabourne Stadium, Mr Munde said the police is on the job and investigating the matter. However, no arrests have been made so far, he added. Though it was reported that alleged Shiv Sainiks ransacked the BCCI office, the party, in a statement has denied it.

When asked whether he had visited the BCCI office, Mr Munde replied in the negative.

Pak to go ahead with tour

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (UNI) — Pakistan will stick to the decision to send its cricket team to India although players are demoralised by the "anti-tour activities" of the Shiv Sena, says the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Mr Khaled Mahmud, who was commenting on the storming of the BCCI office in Mumbai yesterday, told Urdu service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that "the state of affairs is causing worry. But we have decided to send our team to India and we will stick to this decision," he said.

KARACHI: Pakistan has appointed former Foreign Secretary Shaharyar Khan as manager for the Pakistani cricket team's tour of India, news reports said today.

"The Pakistani side will definitely by playing under threats and pressure but players have the experience and potential to face the situation," team manager Khan was quoted as saying.

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India today said the Pakistan tour of India is on as scheduled and there is no chance that the tour will be scrapped.

BCCI Executive Secretary Sharad Diwakar, who held a meeting with board President Raj Singh Dungarpur this morning said: "We have decided to go ahead with the tour as per schedule". Since Pakistan has also given the green signal for the tour, it is the government's responsibility to provide security.