City pads up for fight against communalism

MUMBAI: Cricket for Peace, a tournament organised by the Mohalla Committee Movement Trust with the help of the city police, brings together about 1,660 youngsters from all communities. The preliminary rounds have been completed and the finals will be played at the Police Gymkhana on Marine Drive on February 3.
Addressing a press conference, police chief Ranjit Sharma said, “We ensure that every team in Hindu-dominated areas has two or three Muslims and vice versa.’’ This, he said, would help the players get to know each other as well as the local police.The tournament, which is played with tennis balls, is its seventh year.
Former police chiefs Julio Ribeiro and Ronnie Mendonca, who are associated with the trust, expressed the hope that more police chiefs, officers and youngsters would join the mohalla committee movement. Former Mumbai police chief Satish Sahney Is also active member of the trust.
Also present at the press conference were joint police commissioner (law and order) Javed Ahmed, additional police commissioner S.M. Syed and Burhan Parker, mohalla committee member from Mahim, all whom were active in organising the tournament.