Baton charge at semi-final stadium, but not on fans

Police baton-charged on Monday a crowd of workers demonstrating near the venue for the showpiece World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

The protest rally by temporary Punjab government employees seeking permanent jobs took place in a nearby park but then headed towards the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali.

Amid extremely tight security, police officers dispersed the crowd as it approached the stadium, hitting some protesters with bamboo canes, an AFP reporter witnessed.

"The incident had nothing to do with cricket," local cricket administrator G.S. Walia told AFP.

Police were in huge numbers at the stadium to keep a check on the fans who were crowding outside in the hope of getting tickets to the high-profile clash on Wednesday.

"They (the protestors) also thought that it would be a good way of getting some attention, so they chose the stadium for their protest," said a machine gun-wielding police officer. "The situation is under control."