Naxal shadow fails to dampen cricket enthu

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Sep 25: Despite the terror of frequent firing, other violence and encounters, a slogan-shouting procession carried flaming torches and burst firecrackers to celebrate Team India's spectacular victory against traditional rivals Pakistan in the Twenty20 World Cup cricket final at Johannesburg.

Last evening, the streets of this tribal-dominated district headquarters were deserted as if a curfew was clamped and security personnel were viewing the match in their barracks. It seemed as if even the Maoists had declared a ceasefire -- no gunshots rang out and no attacks took place.

The first-time cricket fever here was courtesy a large number of central security forces personnel being stationed and tribals' excitement for the game.

''The rebels gave us a chance to celebrate,'' a senior police officer quipped to UNI