HIMACHAL VOWS SECURITY COVER, BCCI SAYS BALL IN PAK’S COURT

SHIMLA/ NEW DELHI: The Himachal Pradesh high court disposed of a plea on Friday to maintain law and order during the IndiaPakistan World T20 match scheduled in Dharamshala on March 19 after the state government assured the court it would ensure security.

BCCI official Rajeev Shukla said the match was on and the ball was in Pakistan’s court after the security assurance had been extended. The mouth-watering clash awaited by fans either side of the border was a doubtful starter after state CM Virbhadra Singh wrote to the Union home minister that it could lead to a law and order crisis as Pakistani terrorists continued to target India.

“We hope and trust that in the meantime the respondents will resolve the controversy at their own level while keeping in view the national interests, and the learned advocate general will put in his best efforts,” a division bench comprised of chief justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and justice Sureshwar Thakur observed while disposing of the petition.

Advocate general Shrawan Dogra told the court the state was under legal obligation to maintain law and order. The Centre could provide paramilitary forces to ensure security during the match.

“If the [ Himachal Pradesh] chief minister [Virbhadra Singh] asks for security forces, we will provide,” Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

On Friday, the CM said he had left the matter to the organisers.

INDIA-PA KT 20