ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Centre decides not to take any chances

The Centre today heaved a sigh of relief as Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray today called off his threat to disrupt the India-Pakistan Test series, but decided not to compromise on the security cover for the players and officials.

Briefing reporters after a high-level meeting of the directors-general of police of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Home Secretary B P Singh said Thackeray had agreed to withdraw his threat to disrupt the matches, but the government would still provide "foolproof security" to both teams.

The two-hour-long meeting reviewed security arrangements for the Pakistani cricket team and officials during their stay in the capital and other states where the matches will be played. Both the Test venues and all the places of stay of both teams have been provided round-the-clock security.

The police have already made preventive arrests in the capital as well as in Madras and deployed more than 500 personnel to guard the pitch at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium and the Pakistani players who are already in Delhi.

Asked to comment on the arrests made in the capital and whether vital clues have been found, the home secretary said the suspects are being interrogated and he is awaiting a report from the Delhi police commissioner.

UNI

The Pakistani cricket tour

Tell us what you think of this report