SECURITY THAT’S NOT A NIGHTMARE

Ever since the crowd trouble in 1996 World Cup semi-final and during the India-Pakistan Test in 1999, Eden Gardens has been ultra cautious about security. Water bottles were banned after 1996 and the list has grown longer over the years. No outside food, cigarettes or umbrellas are allowed in the stands. This time though, the rules were relaxed and spectators were allowed to carry umbrellas in. Outside too, the road leading to Eden Gardens was kept open for traffic, as opposed to previous occasions when the entire area used to be locked down. With Kolkata busy shopping for the Pujas, even the organisers were not really expecting much of a crowd in.