Naxal shadow fails to dampen spirit of cricket

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Sep 25 (UNI) Despite the Naxal terror in the state a slogan-shouting procession carried flaming torches and burst firecrackers to celebrate Indian team's spectacular victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup at Johannesburg.

The streets, yesterday evening, in this tribal-dominated district headquarters were a deserted look as if a curfew was clamped and even the 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 cricket fever has gripped a large number of central security forces personnel and tribals' alike and the exicitement was palpable everywhere. With a large number of security personnel being stationed.

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

The Direct-To-Home facility enabled the occupants of a few relief camps to watch the match.

At Raipur, overjoyed people were seen running on the streets with the Tricolour.

UNI