24-Nov-2008 97
Capital city Bhubaneswar today greeted members of both India and England cricket teams on their arrival here for the fifth ODI to be played at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack on Wednesday.
But tight security arrangement by the city police left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of the cricket stars.
Players were whisked away through a separate route as soon as they landed here at the Biju Patnaik International Airport on a chartered plane from Bangalore.
That disheartened hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the airport since morning with garlands and bouquets in their hands.
According to Commissioner of Police, B K Sharma, alternative arrangements were made in order to avoid any untoward incident at the airport.
The Commissionerate Police meticulously planned the security arrangements keeping in mind the unsavoury incident which took place in January last year when the then Team India coach Greg Chappell was assaulted by public at the airport.
An activist of the Kalinga Sena allegedly slapped Chappell, causing embarrassment for the state.
Taking no chances this time, both state police and jawans of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed both at the airport as well as the hotel where the players were staying.
After the fans, it was the turn of the media to feel disappointed at the extra cautious approach of the police. Heated exchange of words occured as the police did not allow photographers to cover the reception programme at the hotel.
Meanwhile, the remaining 1,621 of a total of 14,832 tickets were sold out peacefully today at the stadium counter. Earlier on Sunday, as many as 13,211 tickets for the day-night match were sold by UCO Bank.
