Cuttack T20I: Chaos at ticket counters, touts play in open as police flip blind

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK : Chaotic scenes marked the ticket sale for the India-South Africa T20 match at Barabati stadium in Cuttack as police failed miserably in crowd administration in addition to stopping the touts, who deployed proxies in giant numbers to get them tickets for black advertising.

A stampede like scenario prevailed on the ticket counters on the stadium with 1000’s of individuals jostling with one another to get forward within the queue and get their tickets. There was a scuffle as individuals tried to push ahead following which police resorted to gentle lathicharge to carry the scenario underneath management.

With Cuttack internet hosting a global cricket match after two and half years, the thrill amongst followers was enormous. A complete of 9 ticket counters have been opened together with two for ladies. When the counters opened, the realm was already filled with greater than 15,000 individuals. Every counter had lengthy queues and the recent and humid circumstances made issues more durable for the cricket lovers.

 Women stand in queue in entrance of a ticket counter on Thursday  | Express

Taking benefit of the scenario, touts could possibly be seen strolling exterior the barricades of the parking areas and providing tickets at exorbitant costs to individuals who didn’t need to be a part of the queue. “A person offered me one gallery number- 7 ticket for `3,000 when its actual cost is `600. He also offered me gallery number 2 and 4 tickets for `3,500 each when their actual cost is `700,” mentioned a Cuttack resident, a chartered accountant by career.

A senior police officer mentioned there may be a hyperlink between the stampede-like scenario within the girls ticket counters because the touts engaged girls, “possibly on wages” to get tickets for them.
One individual was permitted to purchase a most of two tickets each on on-line and offline mode. Going by the appearances of a big chunk of ladies within the queue, they received’t ever watch a cricket match by shopping for tickets. The touts engaged girls every day wagers to get tickets for them in order that they might black-market them.

“The touts are not standing near the stadium anymore. They might be carrying out their illegal business at a distance. We are keeping a vigil and necessary action will be taken against any suspect who is found in possession of more tickets than permissible,” mentioned a senior police officer. The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) had made preparations to promote 12,093 tickets to normal public on Thursday and Friday. However, all of the tickets have been offered on the primary day itself.