Right-wing group threatens Pakistani diplomats
Posted: Saturday January 09, 1999 02:06 PM
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Officials say the damage to the pitch is "not very severe" and the match will be played as scheduled AP |
NEW DELHI, India (AP) -- A militant Hindu group has threatened to
harm Pakistani diplomats based in the Indian capital if the
scheduled tour of the Pakistani cricket team to India beginning
this month-end was not put off, Press Trust of India news agency
said Saturday.
PTI quoted New Delhi police as saying that a letter in the name
of local Shiv Sena leaders was found in the Pakistan embassy
premises apparently dropped by a visitor. It said the Sena would
"not allow the Pakistani cricket team to play in India."
The letter also threatened to harm the Pakistani diplomats if
India-Pakistan cricket series was not called off. New Delhi Police
have egistered a case and were verifying the authenticity of the
letter, PTI said.
Shiv Sena leaders were not immediately available for comment.
The Pakistani ambassador in New Delhi met India's home ministry
officials Saturday and discussed threats by militant Hindus to
disrupt Pakistan's first cricket tour of India in 12 years.
Indian officials promised full security to the Pakistani
players, PTI said.
The Shiv Sena is causing embarrassment to the federal government
since it is an ally of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Hindu
nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
On Wednesday night, nearly 25 Shiv Sena activists scaled the
wall of the largely unprotected Feroze Shah Kotla grounds and dug
up the pitch using iron rods. Police later arrested four
protesters.
Cricket officials say the damage to the pitch is "not very
Severe" and the India-Pakistan match will be played as scheduled
in New Delhi on Jan. 28-Feb. 1. The second test will be played in
the southern Indian city of Madras on Feb. 4-8.
The Shiv Sena says Pakistan should not be allowed to play in
India as long as it continues to train and arm Muslim separatists
in Kashmir. Pakistan says it only provides diplomatic and moral
support to rebels.
India and Pakistan have fought two wars over control of the
disputed Himalayan territory.
India and Pakistan rarely play each other in either country,
fearing that the fierce loyalty of their cricket fans could result
in violence. Pakistan last played in India in 1986-87 and India
toured Pakistan in 1989-90.
But the two countries have been playing frequently at neutral
venues, including Toronto, Canada, and Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates.
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