Mohali: Thackeray role to be probed

‘‘The role of (Bal) Thackeray would be ascertained,’’ Jain said adding that the six arrested activists, all residents of Haryana, told police that they had been sent by Goel.

The Chandigarh police claimed that the plot to damage the pitch was hatched by the group at Jind in Haryana. The DIG added that a search for Goel, a resident of Shahdara in Delhi, has already been launched and a team would leave for the Capital soon.

The six arrested are Suresh Sharma and his deputy Rakesh Rana, Aman Khatkar of the Sena’s Jind unit, Shiv Kumar from Hisar, Pradeep Rana from Kaithal and an unidentified activist from Narwana.

Meanwhile, a committee of senior officials is being constituted under the supervision of the Punjab DGP and CM to beef up security at the stadium.

The PCA too is taking all steps to maintain its ‘‘super and safe venue’’ image. The stadium will now be floodlit on all nights. Two cops will guard the pitch round the clock and a small gate within the main entrance will be made at the earliest, informed PCA chief I.S. Bindra on Friday. Moreover, those working to prepare the stadium for the first Test against Pakistan will be issued fool proof entry passes. Every visitor will be screened by both the local security of the stadium and the police. The Punjab Police will also conduct an anti-sabotage check of the stadium everyday.

Bindra admitted that the attempt on Thursday had dented the image of PCA Stadium. He, however, dismissed it as a publicity stunt.

In Ahmedabad, meanwhile, not much has changed post-Mohali, as far as the security is concerned. Question mark hangs over whether the second Test will be played at the Motera or not but security officials at the venue and Gujarat Cricket Association president Narhari Amin think there’s no need to press the panic button as security at the Motera is ‘‘very tight’’ “and no untoward incident will take place here”. ‘‘Because security is not at all a concern here in Ahmedabad,’’ he said, adding that ‘‘every outfit has buried their political differences regarding this issue and everybody want to see the Test being played at the Motera’’.

Amin added that members of the minority community have faxed letters to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Sharyar Khan urging him not to deny Amdavadis from hosting the Test. ‘‘Even intelligence reports say there is no terrorist or communal threat whatsoever,’’ said Amin.

With inputs from Ahmedabad

Kotla under security net

Following the incident of ‘pitch damage’ at the Mohali stadium on Thursday, the Delhi and District Cricket Association has tightened security in and around Ferozshah Kotla ground, one of the centres scheduled to conduct the India-Pakistan ODI in April. A couple of hours after the ‘Mohali incident’, the DDCA administrator sent a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner seeking his help to provide more security at the venue. And on Friday, three policemen and a couple of men from DDCA security team were seen manning the wickets. ‘‘There will be two men from Delhi Police during the day and three at night,’’ said DDCA general secretary Sneh Bansal. —ENS