BU raises its 'pitch' over damaged cricket ground

Complaint against organisers of rally, cops and MDs of transport corporations

Munireddy R, director of physical education, Bangalore University, on Tuesday lodged a complaint at the Upparpet police station with regard to the damage caused to the cricket pitch on the Central College grounds during a rally held at the nearby Freedom Park on Sunday.

Munireddy said that the Karnataka State Yadava Sangha, which had organised the event, managing directors of BMTC and KSRTC, a traffic inspector and a constable of the Upparpet police station have been named in the complaint. 

The KSRTC and BMTC buses and private vehicles, which were used to ferry people to the venue, had “trespassed” on the cricket ground and used it as a parking lot, the complaint says.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Munireddy said, “Permission had been granted for parking the vehicles near the Central College premises. But they ended up using the nearby cricket ground. It was only when we made inquiries with the people around that we came to know that more than 200 buses were parked on the cricket ground. The vehicles have also damaged the compound walls of the ground.”

The university will demand that those responsible for the act pay up for the damages to the ground, Munireddy said.

“The recent cricket World Cup for the blind was held on the same ground. That time, we had used Australian grass to cover the entire ground and it is expensive. 

“The 65-yard cricket pitch has been completely damaged as the buses ran over it and the grass. Piles of garbage have been dumped there, while we spend a large sum maintaining the place,” Munireddy said.

Inquiry on

An officer from the Upparpet police station said, “The university has lodged a complaint and we are inquirying into it. 

“The organisation stated that it had sought permission for parking vehicles, while the university officials say that the permission was granted to park vehicles near the college and not on the ground. We will take necessary action against those responsible after investigation.”