| 21 years after bomb blast, MA stadium still under 'security siege' | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 14: In a peculiar case of gradual death of sports in Jammu due to the overdose of security, M A stadium, the hub of entire sporting activity in Jammu region has been held hostage by the security wing of state police for the last 21 years.
Following a bomb blast in the stadium on Jan 26, 1995 during the Republic Day function, the M A Stadium came under the security siege, where it continues to be till today. A guard of policemen has held the stadium and the training of the sportspersons hostage for close to two decades. These policemen open and close the stadium gates at their own whims and fancies, literally hijacking the training of the sportsmen.
The resentment has now started brewing amongst the sports persons who rue that the stadium has been reduced to a colony of the police. "While entire world trains early in the morning, the doors of MA stadium remain locked till the security personnel wake up" said an athlete, who is regular trainee. "We have to go to schools and colleges and for that we have to start our training early, but the security personnel keep the doors locked till late in the morning, which is ridiculous" he added. "In the evening also, while we are in the middle of our training schedule, these Policemen start blowing whistles to drive us away" he added further.
Expressing dismay over the unreasonable security, another senior athlete said, "It is business as usual in the Parliament which was attacked by militants 15 years ago, but this stadium has been under siege for over two decades now, and no one dares to review the unwarranted security deployment".
Questions are raised on the apathy and indifference of the authorities of J&K State Sports Council, who have never raised the issue with the senior officers of police and civil administration. "The plight of the sportspersons who train at the M A Stadium has been brought to the notice of J&KSSC authorities time and again, but they are least bothered" said another senior athlete. |
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