ODI spoils NRI’s party in Phase 9

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 13

New Zealand resident Prem Singh had never imagined that the ODI match between India and Sri Lanka would spoil his “greh pravesh” function, for which he and his family were excited.

The story was no different for Teja Singh, who had a marriage function of his grandson today.

Both Prem Singh and Teja Singh have their houses in a locality behind IS Bindra PCA Stadium at Phase 9 here where the match was hosted.

They were upset as their guests were not allowed to enter the locality by “high-headed and unresponsive” personnel of the Punjab Police, who were deputed at nakas as part of the security arrangements for the cricket match here.

NRI Prem Singh said he had never imagined that he and his guests would have to make repeated requests to go to their house. “Even workers/cooks hired for the function were not allowed to enter the locality. I was totally clueless what to do. It was sheer harassment for residents of the locality,” said Prem Singh.

Echoing similar sentiments, Teja Singh said instead of consulting priests, residents should first go to the PCA authorities before finalising the dates of their functions. “All family members and our guests faced a lot of problems today. Instead of seeing arrangements for the function, our entire focus was on how to make our guests reach our house,” said Teja Singh.

 Satish Saini, president of the Citizens Welfare Forum, Mohali, and resident of the locality, said Teja Singh and Prem Singh were not the first ones to face such a situation. “During each cricket match, many of us go through the same harassment. Residents have to cross at least four nakas to reach their houses. At the nakas, police officials were not listening to anybody’s request. They were least bothered about the problems of residents,” said Saini.

He said earlier the police used to issue them special passes for a hurdle-free entry to their locality.

“This time, no such passes were issued to us. I fail to understand the approach of senior police officials who make the arrangements. They are insensitive towards the problems of residents of our locality,” said Saini.