Dec 26 in banglore:
The first T20 match between arch rivals India and Pakistan late Tuesday drew
frenzied fans in hordes to the Chinnaswamy stadium but unprecedented security
kept them on the edge, as they were under watchful eyes of hundreds of cops
deployed across the stands.
A blanket ban on carrying any object into the stands,
including banners, placards, buntings, trumpets or even drums robbed the
enthusiastic fans from waving, hooting or blaring as in the domestic India
Premier League (IPL) series.
"I have never seen such tight security in the stadium.
This is the first time I am watching an exciting match under controlled
conditions. I was frisked thrice before I could enter the stands. In a way, it
is good to regulate fans for maintaining discipline though it shackles our
right to express," said N. Mohan Kumar, a law student.
With the stadium turning into a virtual fortress to keep
potential trouble makers away and prevent any sort of demonstration outside or
inside the venue, fans had tough time in entering the stadium in time as
parking was banned 1km around and vehicular movement was restricted.
