Helicopter and 4,000 cops secure IPL 2018 match in Chennai
CHENNAI: Protests against Indian Premier League matches in Chennai intensified in the city amid raging Cauvery demonstrations on Tuesday as the Chepauk readied to host a match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Rider.
Anti-IPL protests by pro-Tamil groups erupted here today with scores of activists including film directors being detained even as police chased away agitators in some places. One incident of protesters burning yellow jerseys, the attire of Chennai Super Kings players, was witnessed.
Pro-Tamil groups like Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) and a newly launched forum of Tamil directors had given a boycott call of the popular Indian Premier League. They alleged that the game was being organised to divert attention from the raging Cauvery protests across the state.
All roads leading to the stadium came under a blanket of security to prevent anti-IPL activists from spoiling the show. The teams had to enter the MA Chidambaram stadium through the back gate as the complex turned into a fortress with the deployment of hundreds of police personnel, many in riot gear.
Following a boycott call by several political parties and fringe groups over the Cauvery water dispute, the police had tightened security around the stadium, our correspondent R. Sivaraman reports.
Under the direct supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police M.C.Sarangan, three joint commissioners and 13 deputy police commissioners, elaborate security was provided to the venue and the hotels where the players are staying.
Over 4,000 police personnel, including city police, armed reserve and elite commando groups, were deployed at the two places on Tuesday morning.
Hundreds of activists of outfits like TVK, Naam Tamizhar and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), besides some Muslim groups, staged road blockade at the arterial Anna Salai and TTK Salai, affecting traffic movement, police said.
Match interrupted briefly at the end of over 7 when a pair of shoes were flung from the top tier of Stand F. Protesters unfurled flags of the Naam Tamilar Katchi.A worker picks up a shoe thrown inside the stadium near the boundary as Ravindra Jadeja looks on at the Stadium.
No signs of protest inside the stadium. Fans changing into yellow T-shirts inside the stadium, reports our correspondent Deepu Sebastia. Naam Thamizhar Katchi leader Seeman, SDPI leaders, MLAs Thamim Ansari, U. Thaniarasu and Karunas, and Tamilnadu Farmers Federation president P.R. Pandian led the procession after they broke the police cordon near Anna Sala.Film directors Bharathiraja, Seeman, Ameer, Ram, Vetrimaran and Mr. Ansari have been detained.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla sought the intervention of the Centre for the smooth conduct of the Chennai Super Kings matches. Mr. Shukla met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and requested him to ensure security arrangements for uninterrupted hosting of the matches.Mr. Gauba assured the IPL chairman that foolproof security would be provided for all the matches in Chennai, a Home Ministry official said.
(With Agency Inputs ).
