As the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad is all set to host India-Pakistan World Cup clash on Saturday (October 14), various units of police across Gujarat have been instructed to be on “alert mode” to keep a close watch on anti-social elements and sensitive areas to avert any untoward incident during and after the match, an official said.
According to state DGP Vikas Sahay, over 6,000 Gujarat Police personnel along with the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and others will be deployed in the Ahmedabad city and at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera area during the match.
The official said that the overall security set-up has been divided into five key-pillars - security for stadium and spectators, traffic and parking arrangement, security for the cricket teams, close watch on anti-social elements and making sure that no untoward incident takes place in the entire state.
"The Gujarat police force is fully prepared to make sure that the cricketing event takes place without any trouble. We have also roped in Ahmedabad crime branch, Anti-Terrorist Squad and Special Operations Group to deal with anti-social elements and terrorists. Since the match would end at around 10.30 pm, all the units of Gujarat police across the state have been directed to be on alert mode after 8 pm tomorrow," Sahay said.
SRP units on 'alert position'
All the State Reserve Police (SRP) units in various parts of the state have also been put on “alert position” for a quick deployment in case of an emergency, he added.
"To avoid any untoward incident during or after the match, all the Superintendents of Police, Commissioners of Police and Range IGs of the entire state have been given instructions to keep a close watch on anti-social elements as well as sensitive areas. As the DGP, I want to assure people that adequate steps have been taken by Gujarat police in view of the match," Sahay said.
The DGP urged the spectators to avail metro train services despite ample parking space at the stadium as the station is just opposite the stadium’s gate.
Earlier on October 9, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik had said that four senior IPS officers along with 21 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) rank officers will supervise and guide the personnel on the day of the highly-anticipated match in the city.
Threat to the Narendra Modi stadium?
Earlier this week, the Ahmedabad crime branch arrested a man for allegedly sending an email threatening attack on the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The accused had allegedly sent an email claiming that there will be a blast on the stadium.
Last month, the Gujarat Police registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for threatening to turn the Cricket World Cup, unveiled on October 5 at Narendra Modi stadium, into "World Terror Cup".
(With PTI inputs)
