Odisha Government begins probe into Barabati fiasco

Bhubaneswar, Oct 9: Even as the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has already submitted a report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding crowd violence at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack during the send T20 International against South Africa, the state’s home secretary Asit Tripathy began investigations into the incident on Thursday.

The home secretary said that he will look into the circumstances under which the spectators hurled water bottles onto the ground thereby halting the match twice as South Africa chased down the Indian total of 92 in 17.1 overs to register a six-wicket victory.

He also said that the investigation would also seek to devise ways to avoid such incidents in future. Notably, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had asked the home secretary to probe the matter that has brought a bad name to the state internationally.

State sports secretary Saswat Mishra said that action will be taken against the offenders on the basis of the report to be furnished by the home secretary.

Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik said all sorts of information would be provided during the inquiry.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner has registered a case suo motu at cantonment police station in Cuttack over the incident.

Cuttack DCP Sanjeev Arora said that the police will examine the footages of CCTVs installed inside the stadium in order to identify and nab those who disrupted the match.

Meanwhile, the OCA submitted a report to the BCCI on Wednesday over the issue, assuring game’s national governing body that such incidents would not be repeated in future.

In its report, it said that water bottles would not be allowed inside the stadium henceforth and it would adhere to the guidelines laid down by International Cricket Council (ICC).