Delhi Sena chief faces arrest

Delhi police commissioner Dr K K Paul said that if necessary Delhi Shiv Sena chief Jai Bhagwan Goel and his close associates will be held under preventive custody ahead of the April 17 One-day International between India and Pakistan at the Ferozshah Kotla.

Goel has threatened to dig up the Kotla pitch to protest against sporting links with Pakistan.

Sunday's sixth and final One-Day International will be watched by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and several other distinguished guests, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and former deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.

Speaking to rediff.com on Friday, Dr Paul said security arrangements are in place and expressed hope that things would pass off peacefully.

"The Shiv Sena may hold some demonstrations to express their protests, but if they try to head towards Kotla they would be arrested," Paul warned.

A special helipad has been put in place at the Ambedkar football stadium. Musharraf and Manmohan Singh may use a helicopter in case intelligence inputs indicate a threat by terrorists if the two travel by road to Kotla. Both are expected to watch the match for an hour.

Meanwhile, the half-finished Kotla stadium has been given a new look by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is helping the Delhi and District Cricket Association, headed by Arun Jaitley, former law minister in the Vajpayee government, in cleaning up operations. Half-finished roofs and pillars have been covered with blue cloth to give the stadium a festive look.

Media persons covering the match have to be in their seats on the second floor of the VVIP enclosure an hour-and-a-half before the start of the match. They will not be allowed to carry their mobile phones inside the stadium.

Tight security and physical frisking will be conducted at six or seven places, particularly at the pavilion end. Over a hundred metal detector gates would be activated for screening spectators.

"Best option is to stay at home and watch the match," a senior police official said.

Over 7,000 security personnel will be on duty during the match at the Kotla and football stadium, where a helicopter would be kept in waiting in case of any emergency.