Ticket crisis, police baton to ward off cricket fans at Eden

Kolkata, Apr 24 (UNI) Police wielded batons to ward off scores of agitating cricket fans gathered in front of the Eden Gardens today after the Rs 110 tickets for IPL's April 29 T-20 match between Kolkata and Mumbai were exhausted soon after opening of counters.

Tension prevailed since early morning as hundreds of fans had gathered before the counters which closed within half-an-hour, enraging the people.

Hundreds of fans gathered in front of Eden's main gate in protest and shouted slogans against Cricket Association of Bengal President Prasun Mukherjee.

The CAB officials, however, said they had nothing to do with the sale of tickets as Red Chillies Entertainment, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, was managing this.

It was not immediately known how many were injured in the lathi charge but scores of slippers and other belongings of people littered the roads.

There was no immediate word from Red Chillies Entertainment about the number of tickets issued in the Rs 110 and Rs 220 denomination.

During the April 20 match between Kolkata and Hyderabad teams, tickets of all denominations were sold in the grey market at a higher premium.

UNI PC PL AB BST1737