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Sainiks ransack BCCI office in Bombay

A group of rampant Shiv Sainiks today barged into the Board of Control for Cricket in India's headquarters at Brabourne Stadium and damaged the office property as a protest against the central government's consent for Pakistan's cricket tour in the country.

According to an eye-witness, a big crowd waving Shiv Sena flags and armed with hockey sticks and stumps charged into the unguarded office and damaged furniture, a glass panel and fax machines. Some even pulled out telephone wires. BCCI executive secretary Sharad Diwadkar was present and lodged a complaint with the Azad Maidan police station. Diwadkar and all the employees were unhurt, as per first reports.

Soon after the incident BCCI top officials were huddled in an urgent meeting with BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur. The latter's private secretary refused to give any information regarding the venue of the meeting. The extent of damage was still not known but the office was closed down immediately and will not open till full security measures are taken.

A BCCI staffer said the leader of the gang introduced himself as party MLA, Srikant Sarmalkar.

The BCCI office, situated at the other side of Brabourne Stadium in South Bombay, is always open during office hours and there is no watchman on duty.

The BCCI's staff includes about five persons. They all looked terrified as the Sainiks, believed to be more than 50 in number, started smashing things.

Sarmalkar then congratulated the Sainiks and left, but not before holding out the threat that nothing will stop them from preventing the Pakistan tour or from vandalising the office again.

On leaving, a Sainik allegedly slapped Diwadkar and made lewd remarks at the lady typists. It appeared that they were well informed about the lax security adopted by the BCCI despite the storm brewing over the tour for a long time. They also had the advance knowledge of BCCI honorary secretary J Y Lele's arrival in the city from Baroda to give finishing touches to the tour after the Pakistan government gave a green signal. However, Lele escaped through a side door of the cabin, while Diwadkar stayed on as there were women in the office. As per the last report he was still in office, giving his statements to the police.

UNI

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