Women commandos to protect Sania

BY Imran Ahmed Siddiqui

Kolkata, September 14: KOLKATA’s wallscape has started changing fast. With India’s latest tennis sensation Sania Mirza’s “scantily” dressed posters occupying more and more space and Muslim fundamentalists issuing threats, Kolkata Police is gearing up for the Sunfeast Open Women’s Tennis Tournament which starts at Netaji Indoor Stadium on September 19, the first major event in the city where Sania will appear since acquiring stardom.

The police will deploy women commandos to steer the participants, especially Sania, out of harm’s way during the “big event”. Sania has earlier been to the city but she has not participated in any major tournament here. This will be her second tournament after the commendable performance at the US Open, where she lost to Maria Sharapova in the fourth round.

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But as in some other places in the country, in Kolkata too a section of maulvis and fundamentalists are asserting that the “scantily” dressed tennis star has brought “a bad name to Islam”.

Maulana Siddiqullah Chowdhury, secretary of the West Bengal unit of the Jamat-e-Ulema Hind, said, “Islam never allows women to wear skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops. But this girl is violating all these norms. No doubt, she has brought a bad name to the religion, which never permits women to dress scantily. I think she should not be allowed to enter the city.”

He pointed out that some Hyderabad maulvis have already issued a fatwa against her. “She has brought disgrace to Islam by wearing those dresses,” Siddiqullah said.

The Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque, Alhaz Noorur Rahman Barkati, sounded less rigid. But he too did not seem too happy.

“I think she needs counselling. The time has come for her to understand that whatever she is doing is against the Shariat. Instead of issuing a fatwa, she should be inculcated about the Islamic way of life,” said the Shahi Imam.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata police are on their toes to ensure that nothing hampers Sania’s game at the Sunfeast tournament. Senior police officers at Lalbazar admitted today that the city’s “Sania mania” has put them on high alert and they are sparing no efforts to keep religious fundamentalist at bay. They are planning to deploy commandos and women police personnel to escort Sania and the other players from the hotel to the stadium.

Speaking to Newsline, acting police commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said that strong security arrangements are being made for the tournament.

“Since all the 23 players are women, we have made elaborate and strong police arrangements. A large number of plainclothes policewomen and commandos will be deployed in and around the stadium. Police and commandos will also be deployed near the hotel where the players will be staying”, Chakraborty assured. Asked whether the police are anticipating any trouble as some maulvis and religious scholars in the city have been making disturbing noises on Sania, the acting police commissioner replied, “we will provide adequate security cover to her. Since it is a sensitive matter, I will not disclose the specific security arrangements. But we are not apprehending any trouble.”

Chakraborty, accompanied by senior officers including joint commissioner of police (administration) Kuldip Singh, inspected the Netaji Indoor Stadium this evening. He later said, “we inspected the venue where the last minute preparations are going on. We are satisfied with the arrangements and security will be provided from September 17 as the practice sessions will start on that day.”