Indian team lands in Calcutta
amidst tight security
Arup Chanda in Calcutta
The Indian cricket team returning from its tour of New Zealand landed at Calcutta's Dum Dum airport on Thursday afternoon amidst tight security. A huge contingent of policemen, including Rapid Action Force personnel in full riot gear, was deployed at the airport. Policemen also lined the entire road into the city.
None, reporters included, was allowed to go near the players who were surrounded by gun-toting commandos of the Calcutta police.
Saurav Ganguly was escorted to his house in Behala, south Calcutta, by a special unit of commandos.
The cricketers from the South -- Robin Singh, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad -- were taken in a bus under heavy police escort to the Taj Bengal.
The others, including skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Ajay Jadeja and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, remained in the VIP lounge at the airport, surrounded by security men. They later boarded flights for Bombay and Delhi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India held a meeting at the Eden Gardens in the afternoon where International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya welcomed the decision of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to withdraw his threat to disrupt the India-Pakistan series.
Dalmiya said, "Sports should be used for promoting harmony and peace. The image of the country was tarnished by some recent incidents. [But] I am happy that the game can be played without any tension."
He said Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi had telephoned him a number of times since last night requesting him not to shift the BCCI headquarters from Bombay since the agitation had been called off.
He said, "The BCCI takes decisions collectively and in a democratic way and in future all decisions will be taken in that manner."
Meanwhile, the Calcutta police continued their vigil despite the withdrawal of Thackeray's threat. "We do not want to take any chances," a police official said.
The Pakistani cricket tour
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