Police run amok in F?bad, girl critical

Having a valid ticket for a cricket match does not guarantee you a seat. You do, however, run the risk of arousing the police's anger. On Friday, cricket fans waiting to get into Nahar Singh Stadium for the India-England ODI learnt this lesson at a great cost. The trouble began at Gate No. 7, when the Haryana Police reportedly stopped entry after 10 a.m. When people protested, the police responded with a lathi-charge. Even children and women were beaten.

Having a valid ticket for a cricket match does not guarantee you a seat. You do, however, run the risk of arousing the police's anger.

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On Friday, cricket fans waiting to get into Nahar Singh Stadium for the India-England ODI learnt this lesson at a great cost. The trouble began at Gate No. 7, when the Haryana Police reportedly stopped entry after 10 a.m. When people protested, the police responded with a lathi-charge. Even children and women were beaten.

Sangeeta Jain and her seven-year-old daughter Vidhi -- they had valid tickets -- were seriously injured. Taken to a government hospital in Faridabad, they were later shifted to Escorts Hospital in Delhi, where they are in the ICU. Both have fractured collar bones. Vidhi also has swelling in the face and internal injuries.

A 50-year-old man was also roughed up. Later, the police said it was a routine matter and the people "needed to be disciplined". "Of course, this is a routine issue," said a police officer. "People without tickets or passes were trying to forcibly enter.

As far as closing the gate is concerned, it's in the hands of the officials. We don't have any say in that." Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) officials, meanwhile, blamed the municipality.

There were more complaints against the police. Some accused them of letting in people known to them -- sans tickets. "We saw people being allowed entry without getting checked," said a spectator.