Hindu militants threaten Pakistani diplomats on cricket tour

The Statesman daily said police found Hindi and English pamphlets in front of the Pakistani embassy here written by Hindu militants warning diplomats would be targetted if the Pakistan team arrived in India.

Supporters of Hindu leader Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena party dug up the cricket pitch at New Ferozeshah Kotla stadium, venue of the first Test, Wednesday in a bid to prevent the match.

A police officer said the two-page pamphlet was signed by the ``acting president'' of Delhi's Shiv Sena unit and a former chief of the party.

Security was increased at the embassy following the threats, a police official said.

``We will not allow any untoward incident in the area. Security has been tightened in the area,'' said joint commissioner of police Y.S. Dadwal.

``Appropriate measures have been taken for the security of the diplomats and we are trying to track down the people who have signed the pamphlets,'' he said.

Police arested eight Shiv Sena supporters overnight as a ``preventive measure'', other newspapers said.

A police official said the chief of the Shiv Sena party, along with some other leaders, had gone underground to evade arrest.

The police action followed a government order to ensure ``foolproof'' security for the Pakistani cricket team.

The ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People's Party) of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said the Pakistan team should go ahead with its programme following New Delhi's pledge to protect the players.

``After the government's assurance, the Pakistan cricket team should go ahead with its tour of this country later this month,'' BJP spokesman K.L. Sharma said.

Vajpayee blamed ``a handful of people'' in India and Pakistan of trying to sabotage efforts to normalise relations between the two countries.

``Some people (in India) are adamant they will not let the cricket match be played in India,'' he said, without elaborating.

The Pakistani team, which last played a Test on Indian soil in March 1987, is to arrive here January 21 for a two-Test series, the Asian Test championship opener against India and a triangular one-day series also featuring Sri Lanka.

In 1991, Hindu fanatics vandalised the pitch at Bombay's Wankhede stadium two days before Pakistan were to start a limited-over series in India.

Pakistan cancelled that tour, and two more in 1993 and 1994, because of security fears. They played in India during the 1996 World Cup and the Independence Cup the following year without any problems.

``It is time for the Shiv Sena supporters to begin preparations for Pakistanis' arrival ... get ready to welcome them in a big way,'' militant leader Thackeray was quoted by The Pioneer newspaper as saying.

The police, meanwhile, urged newspaper editors to report to them any advance information gathered on the Hindu militants.

The militants have in the past tipped off photographers and journalists before they stage attacks.

The move sparked off a heated debate in the Indian media, with some editors welcoming the suggestion and others denouncing it.

Chandan Mitra, editor of the Pioneer newspaper, said that while the media has ``a legitimate interest in pursuing a story, it should inform the police in such circumstances.'' But Sekhar Gupta, editor of the Indian Express daily, said the pitch-digging incident ``was not a crime in the classical sense.''

``If we are invited to cover a protest, how do we presume or anticipate lawlessness or vandalism?''