Mumbai Police augments arrangements with 3-tier security for cricketers during the World Cup to avoid a Lahore-type terrorist attack
Mumbai Police augments arrangements with 3-tier security for cricketers during the World Cup to avoid a Lahore-type terrorist attack
The Mumbai Police has braced itself for one of the most sensitive aspects of the ongoing Cricket World Cup: security.
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The elaborate arrangements have been steeled to ensure that a Lahore-style militant attack on international cricketers does not take place in the city during the matches.
A bullet-ridden bus which was carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team outside the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore in Pakistan on March 3, 2009. The terrorists opened fire and hurled grenades while the bus was on its way from their hotel to Gaddafi stadium. A few Lankan players were injured in the attack
Security around the matches has been taken even more seriously after the terrorist attack during the Lahore Test match in March 2009, in which some Sri Lankan cricketers were injured.
An Intelligence Bureau report also warned of a serious terror threat during the matches.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Rajnish Seth said that adequate security would be provided to the visiting sportspersons.
But he refuted reports of a terror threat, in particular to the event. "There is no specific threat," said Seth.
Officials have stepped up grassroot intelligence nonetheless.
3-tier security
The police have fleshed out a copper-bottomed three-tier security plan to protect the visiting teams.
The outer ring comprises armed policemen deployed at all vulnerable junctions to guard routes, through which the convoy of cricketers will pass.
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The services of special units like beat marshals, commandos and quick response teams have been enlisted to foil any attack. The local police stations, through which the convoy will pass will be on high alert on match days.
This ring will also keep checks around the stadium and prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering the security zone. Necessary as it is, the numerous nakabandis on the city's roads during the matches could prove to be an irritant for Mumbaikars.
The middle ring includes a cordon of armed commandos around the luxury hotels where the cricketers will be accommodated. The innermost ring consists of guards surrounding the dressing and changing rooms, the hotel lobbies and so on.
Police sources said that all high-rises in the vicinity of the Wankhede stadium would be sanitised to prevent any sniper attacks. The middle ring is expected to conduct a very thorough check on spectators entering the stadium.
A senior IPS officer pointed out that the three-tier security planned for the safety of the cricketers would seriously restrict their movement and prevent them from rubbing shoulders with models and suchlike in the after parties. The fortification around the cricketers means that their nightlife may go for a toss, cops said.
Constantly flanked by security men, the sports stars may have to compromise on the modelling assignments they take up during the matches, the officer pointed out.
Crime branch units on the other hand have been asked to run checks on hotel rooms to make sure that they are safe from any danger. The khabri (or informer) network has been strengthened to look out for terrorists.
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