New Delhi, February 28: Scribes were literally made to pay for it as the security personnel manning the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium insisted that coins posed a security threat to the players participating in the hockey World Cup.
The journalists who came to cover the opening day of the 12-team event got poorer as police personnel relieved them of the coins, fearing they might “throw them into the ground”.
The scribes, who were not allowed to cover the build up to the prestigious event which India is hosting after 28 years, were made to stand outside the entrance for more than an hour before they were allowed to enter the stadium.
To their amusement, the journalists were then told to take out any coins they had brought and deposit at the entrance, besides match boxes, lighters and cigarettes.
“We got orders not to allow coins inside the stadium.
–Agencies