Ticket-holders left stranded

Sources said that as most seats were occupied by family members of high officials, many spectators were kept out as the stadium was housefull. Some angry cricket fans staged protests that led to skirmishes with policemen deployed outside the stadium. Even the police resorted to lathicharge.

Shiv Kumar, a spectator, said that his son managed to enter the stadium while he was detained outside. “I had purchased tickets for Rs 1,500 but the policemen did not allow me to enter. We missed the match, and our money has also gone down the drains,” he said. Another spectator, Abhishek Singh, said that the police used force to disperse the cricket fans, when they demonstrated against the authorities for denying entry to them despite carrying tickets.

Sources said that DGP Vikram Singh had issued orders directing all policemen to remain outside the Green Park and concentrate on controlling the crowd. But the orders were forgotten once the match started. Most policemen on duty were seen relaxing and enjoying the match.

Besides, many were shocked as those wearing black clothes were denied entry by the district administration in the wake of chief minister Mayawati’s visit to the city. Confusion prevailed over the restriction on wearing black dress. Many cricket fans were detained because of this. Several spectators had to take off their shirts in order to avoid any harassment by the securitymen. One person wearing a black T-shirt was asked to remove it and then given a tricolour to drape himself with. However, they were allowed to enter after senior officials intervened.

Rubbishing the claims, SP (Traffic) Ramlal Verma said there was no restriction on any colour.