New Delhi: The home towns of the cricketers playing for Team India at the World Cup went on a security alert on Saturday as cricket-crazy Indians ventured out to the streets to vent their fury over the lackluster performance of the team at the 47-day showpiece event.
Indian bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan was the first one to be a target of mob fury when agitated cricket fans gave vent to their anger by pelting stones at Zaheer's restaurant in Pune early on Saturday morning.
According to PTI reports, some unidentified men hurled stones at ZK's, a popular restaurant in Lulla Nagar under the jurisdiction of Wanworie police station, soon after India crashed to a 69-run defeat against Sri Lanka.
There was increased security also at Sachin Tendulkar's residence at Bandra, in northeast Mumbai. Mumbai police said they anticipation possibility of fan wrath on Sachin and his family. No person was be allowed to enter Sachin's house without permission from the security personnel.
Police will also provide escort to Sachin's family members whenever they venture out of their residence. Sachin is likely to return to India only on Monday after the Bangladesh-Barmuda match.
In Ranchi, the local police had beefed up security at Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's house within minutes of India's humiliating defeat at Queen's Park. Dhoni scored zero in the match, his second duck in a World Cup match.
"Security at his house has been increased after what happened last Sunday," PTI quoted a Ranchi police official as saying. Angry Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supporters had destroyed a portion of Dhoni's under-construction house in Ranchi on Saunday after India lost to Bangladesh in their first game.
Four armed security personnel were also deployed to guard Dhoni's original house in Mecon colony, where he lives with his parents.
In Jalandhar, police have beefed up security at Harbhajan Singh's residence in Kishanpura locality fearing an attack from dejected cricket fans.
Friday's loss sparked angry reactions in the town with cricket lovers criticising the local lad for his below-par show in the match. Police sources said they feared an attack on the off-spinner's house in the wake of the heartbreaking loss.
In Vadodara, security has been tightened at the residences of both Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan.
Security has been stepped up at seamer Munaf Patel's house in Ikhar village in neighbouring Bharuch district, PTI quoted district superintendent of police Siddarth Khatri as saying.
"Patrolling has also been increased in and around the village," he said. "Similarly a police mobile van has been stationed outside
the residence of left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan's house in Tandalja locality here as a precautionary measure," Vadodara police Commissioner P C Thakur said.
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