Pakistan v India, 3rd ODI, Lahore

Three injured in crowd stampede

Cricinfo staff

February 12, 2006

An Indian fan waves his country's flag as he crosses the border into Pakistan © AFP

"We have called the police to avert any untoward situation, as the crowd had become bad-tempered," said an immigration official. The official added that three people were taken to hospital with minor injuries after people started throwing stones at officials, at the crossing between India and Pakistan near the northern Indian city of Amritsar. Around 3000 people had lined up since dawn, 25 kilometres from Amritsar, to cross by foot into Pakistan and then on to Lahore.

"It was difficult for the Custom and Immigration staff to clear the crowd of three thousand people at once," the official said.

The swathe of people confronted at the border caused the officials to close the gates, which invoked scenes of violence from angry fans who broke through the gate to reach the immigration office. Officials fled in panic, as the crowd hurled stones at their office, smashing windows and causing a minor stampede.

Officials were hopeful of processing all the travelling fans to Pakistan by the end of the day.

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