E-Paper
Shiv Sainiks damage Mohali pitch
Activists caused "very minor damage" to the pitch, venue for the first Test between India and Pakistan next month.
A handful of Shiv Sena activists on Thursday caused "very minor damage" to the pitch at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) ground which is scheduled to host the first Test between India and Pakistan next month.
As many as ten activists jumped over from Gate No. 3 of the sprawling complex and ran through the spectator stand after jumping over the water channel to reach the playing area.
But before they could cause any serious damage to the pitch, the "trespassers" were nabbed by the security personnel deployed by PCA, Association Treasurer GS Walia said.
"Damage is minor because the Watch and Ward staff of the stadium managed to nab the miscreants before they could reach the actual pitch," he said.
Six of the activists were overpowered by security personnel and handed over to the Mohali Police.
"If there had been a delayed reaction from the Watch and Ward staff, substantial damage could have been caused to the pitch as some of the intruders were carrying a 'sambal' (instrument used for digging mud)," Walia said.
Mohali Superintendent of Police Rakesh Aggarwal said four of the miscreants managed to flee from the spot.
He said a case under various sections of the IPC relating to trespassing, vandalism and causing damage to property had been registered.
Aggarwal said the Sainiks, who identified themselves as residents of Hissar and Jind districts of Haryana, also managed to partly damage the iron grill installed around the stadium.
Additional security personnel have been deployed in and around the stadium following the incident.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena's Delhi unit president Jai Bhagwan Goyal claimed responsibility for the incident saying it was part of the party's plan not to allow any match to be played in India.
"We will not allow any match to be played till Pakistan stops supporting cross-border terrorism in India", he said.
Sena activists had dug the pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in Delhi in 1999 ahead of the Pakistan team's last full tour of India.
