Cricket stadium turns into ‘temporary jail’

New Delhi: Chandigarh’s sector 16 cricket stadium has been declared as a ‘temporary jail’ on August 25, the day CBI pronounces the verdict on a case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Bab Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim. 

If required, the stadium will be used to detain people suspected of creating law and order problem. The decision to turn a cricket ground into an open jail was taken by the Home Department of Chandigarh.

Stringent security arrangements have been made in the state for maintaining law and order. The Haryana government has imposed section 144 of CrPC till August 25 to avert any case of violence.

However, this is not the first time a stadium has been converted into an open jail. In 2012, Baba Ramdev and thousands of supporters were held in Ambedkar stadium in central Delhi during their protest against black money and corruption. 

Another instance took place in 2011, when the Chhatrashal Stadium in North Delhi, which was turned into a temporary jail in the wake of widespread public protest in support of Anna Hazare's campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill.