Mohali Diary

NO USE OF FORCE

It was probably the first time when Punjab Police controlled the crowd without using force. Three-tier security and extensive barricading — stretching up to 2.5 km radius of the stadium — proved very useful. “We managed to control the crowd with minimum force and maximum arrangements,” said Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Most officers seemed relieved with the smooth management of crowd. “Those who spent money enjoyed while others faced heat,” felt Rajinder Singh,an officer. Poonam,who along with her family had come to watch the match from Gurgaon,said never before had they experience such “hassle-free” entry and exit in a crucial match like this.

UNDECLARED HOLIDAY

Government offices in Mohali and elsewhere in the district wore a deserted look as the entire administration went on “cricket duty”. With the working of civil and police wings of administration coming to a virtual standstill,the locals had found no one on duty to dispense with official work. District officials,however,reasoned that they could either remain in office or perform field duty. “It is tiring to remain standing or roam around the PCA stadium,that also for so many days,” quipped a district official.

COPS IN LURCH

The 3,500-odd Punjab Police personnel on duty to secure the stadium vicinity for the last several days,were left in the lurch with nothing to eat and no place to stay. PCA authorities,which owe around Rs 10 crore as security charges to the state police,did not help out the policemen in such a situation. On the other hand,the state police authorities maintained that they had not money to make such arrangements. “Please don’t embarrass me by asking such a thing,” said Mohali SSP Gupreet Singh Bhullar when asked to comment.

SARABJIT’S SISTER FAILS TO MEET GILANI

Dalbir Kaur,sister of Sarabjit Singh — who is on a death row in a Pakistan prison — made a futile attempt to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. As Gilani entered the stadium,Dalbir,along with Sarabit’s daughter Swapandeep Kaur and some others,tried to have an audience with Gilani. But the watertight security arrangements prevented them from meeting Gilani. The security officials on duty reasoned that they could not allow any such audience without prior clearance.

MOHALI HELD TO RANSOM

Residents were virtually held to ransom and business in Phase IX and X came to a standstill following the unprecedented security across the city. All roads — including one passing in front of the stadium and three side roads with one connecting Chandigarh with Mohali — leading to the stadium were closed for vehicular traffic since early morning. Residents of Phase IX and X were the worst hit. Only vehicles with special permits were allowed to ply on these roads.

Poor management of traffic led to total chaos on the main roads and with the police officers “misusing” their authority to enter the prohibited barricading zone. “All roads leading to PCA are closed and people have to follow a longer route to reach markets. As a result,very less customers turned up at our shops,” said Ranjit Singh,a trader in Phase X. A departmental store owner,Vijay Kumar,said: “With so many checkpoints in 2.5-km radius of PCA,most people are avoiding these routes. This has affected our daily sales by over 90 per cent.”

“Punjab Police have deputed 3,500 policemen besides central security forces and private security of PCA. Even so,vital road links have been shut citing security reasons. Due to this,I had to drive several extra miles to reach my office,” complained Sujata,a government employee.

Due to lack of parking space in the designated parking lots,the spectators parked their vehicles in the commercial and residential areas adjoining the stadium.

Ritu Singh,a resident of Phase IX,said: “Scores of two-wheelers and four-wheelers are parked in our street — right in front of our houses. It will be very chaotic,especially when the match gets over.”

“It is not a new thing for us. It happens every time there is an international match at PCA. We wonder why the authorities cannot formulate a solution for safe parking of vehicles,” said Anju,a resident.

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