Associated Press

Lucknow, February 13:

Police arrested six members of a Hindu extremist party after they tried to damage a northern Indian venue for the upcoming cricket Test series against Pakistan.

The members of Shiv Sena party were arrested on charges of attempting to destroy the law and order situation in Kanpur city, where India and Pakistan are scheduled to play a Test match in early April, police officer Shiwa Sagar Singh said.

Singh said security around the Kanpur stadium has been tightened after the Shiv Sena workers made a failed attempt on Saturday to damage the pitch. He said security guards have been alert since a group attempted last week to damage the pitch in Mohali town, another venue for the Test series.

Shiv Sena is opposed to sporting ties with Pakistan, which it accuses of aiding and abetting terrorism in India. The party has previously tried to stop Pakistan tours to India by damaging pitches in Mumbai and New Delhi.

The Pakistani team is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on February 25 for the first Test series in India since 1999.