Many fans with tickets lose out to high-handed cops

KANPUR: Mismanagement and lawlessness on the part of the police prevented many fans from watching the ODI match between India and West-Indies on Wednesday. The policemen did not allow people to enter inside the stadium, even those who were having tickets and passes. Many enthusiastic fans were seen scouting for an opportunity to enter the stadium till an hour before the end of the match but failed due to police high-handedness in the name of security.
Kilometre-long queues of fans were seen outside the stadium since wee hours of Wednesday. Those who managed to reach the ground at the earliest managed to gain entry. The fans, who got a bit delayed, were stopped at police barricades. The policemen also misbehaved with locals who entered into heated arguments with them.
The people were annoyed as they could not watch the match even after spending hundreds of bucks. The police also redistricted those with valid passes by claiming it to be the orders of their captain, SSP, Yashshavi Singh Yadav.
According to eyewitnesses, the police allowed their near and dear ones to enter the stadium while keeping the deserving ones to remain outside. People inside the ground claimed that policemen were enjoying the match from the enclosures.
Sushil Mishra, a private employee from Kidwai Nagar had a pass for B-Special gallery issued by UPCA as complementary pass. He too was stopped outside the stadium. He reached the stadium around 11 am and tried to convince the policemen on duty regarding his special pass but to no avail. "Its totally unruly that policemen themselves are enjoying the match and not allowing the people with valid pass. This is the reason why common man is losing faith in police and system," rued Sushil Mishra.
Prashant from Gwaltoli area, who too had a special pass of B-gallery failed to enjoy the match despite reaching the ground at 10 am. He alleged that the policemen said that he had been ordered not to allow pass-holders into the stadium after 9 am.
"The policemen claimed that SSP has given him the orders that no one with pass will be allowed to enter the stadium. I tried to manage the tickets on Tuesday but the policemen in the bank branch said that tickets have been sold out. Somehow how I managed the pass and yet the police forcefully stopped me from watching the match," said Prashant.
Nikhil and Sanjay from Barra claimed that they faced utter lawlessness unleashed by the police despite possessing tickets of C-balcony. "We decided to reach the ground a bit due to heavy crowd morning hours. We spend Rs 750 on tickets yet were debarred from viewing the match on just being late by half-an-hour," said Sanjay.
Nancy and Vikram who fortunately managed to enter inside the stadium were also among the unfortunate lot as they came out to take their other friends inside and were stopped by the police. The policemen did not allow them to enter inside the stadium.
"We in total seven friends decided to see the match. The tickets were with me and Nancy while others got stuck-up in jam at Naveen Market and reached late. We moved out to take our friends in but were forcibly stopped by the police," said Nancy. Vikram rued "I saw policemen resting on empty chairs, even in the pavilion gallery but they stopped us by saying that the stadium is full."