Had no information on Pak troupe’s performance, say Gurgaon cops

A blame game has started between the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and the city police after Shiv Sena activists disrupted a play that was being staged by a Pakistani troupe on Saturday evening.

A blame game has started between the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and the city police after Shiv Sena activists disrupted a play that was being staged by a Pakistani troupe on Saturday evening.

One activist, claiming to be of the Shiv Sena, said the men had done nothing wrong. (ANI Photo)

Officials of the MCG said that the city police was informed about the show but they failed to provide security. But, the Gurgaon police have denied receiving any such information from the civic body. The MCG did not follow the standard procedure of informing the police and asking for protection, the police said.

Consultant art and culture (MCG), Vishawdeep Trikha said that all formalities were completed at the Foreigners’ Registration office (FRO). The police and officials of the crime investigation department were also informed about the visit of Pakistani artists.

“The MCG of ficials had informed the concerned police station at 5 pm. We also told them about the artists visiting from Pakistan and we were also in touch with the people from CID. Despite this there was no police resulting at the event,” said Trikha.

MCG commissioner Vikas Gupta refrained from commenting on the issue.

The police officials refuted all claims made by Trikha and other municipal authorities. “No information was provided and no permission was taken from the Sector 29 police station prior to the event by any person or authority regarding the programme. A complaint was re gistered on Sunday, after which the four accused were immediately arrested,” said Deepak Saharan, deputy commissioner of police (east), Gurgaon.

A senior police official said that the police department followed established norms and procedures. “Though the foreign registration office (FRO) was informed about the presence of the Pakistani artists but the MCG did ask for a security cover for the event,” he added.

On Saturday evening, four men, claiming to be activists of the Shiv Sena, raised anti-Pakistan slogans and disrupted an event being held at an amphitheatre in Sector 29, Gurgaon.