Heart-hitting news for fans of Chennai: IPL matches moved out due to Cauvery protests

NewsBharati    11-Apr-2018
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Chennai, April 11: IPL fans in Chennai will have to bear as the remaining games of this year’s Indian Premier League at the MA Chidambaram Stadium will be shifted out due to the ongoing Cauvery Water Dispute. 

On Tuesday, around a squad of 4000 policemen was deployed as security for Chennai Super Kings-Kolkata Knight Riders due to the protests against Indian Premier League (IPL) matches which is being held on the grounds of Chennai.

Flags and banners have been banned, with commandos and Rapid Action Force personnel forming part of the security for the tie.

Spectators would not be allowed to carry firecrackers, inflammable materials and firearms, besides bags, mobile phones, brief-cases, pagers, radios, digital diaries, laptops, computers, tape-recorders, binoculars, remote control devices, remote control car-keys or any other electronic devices, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association said in a release.

The Tamil Nadu government has put the responsibility on the IPL governing body for conducting the matches.

The cricket board has been apprised of "our sentiments," fisheries minister D Jayakumar said.

He said "it would be good" if the BCCI respected the sentiments and not conduct the match here but the  government would provide all support, including security, as per laid down guidelines.

Political parties and outfits have been demanding that IPL matches not be held at this time, saying the state is witnessing widespread agitations over Cauvery Water issue.

Tamil film star Rajinikanth had suggested that CSK team players play with black bands as a mark of expressing the anguish of people who have been staging protests demanding setting up of Cauvery Management Board.

Police in a release tonight said that as part of the stringent measures, a 4,000 strong police force, comprising one team of commandos and four teams of personnel of Rapid Action Force, besides a number of senior officials, would be part of the security detail inside and outside the M A Chidambaram stadium, where the match will be held. They had earlier said 2,000 personnel would be deployed.

The fans will be allowed entry only after a thorough check, the release said, adding proper traffic arrangements would also be put in place.

While for the record, Tamil Nadu has been constantly on hot pan due to Cauvery Management Board issue. The state has witnessed widespread protests for the past one week, with political parties, farmers outfits and others, including the Tamil cinema industry, urging the Centre to establish the Cauvery Management Board to implement the February 16 verdict of the apex court.