Ahmedabad is turning into a fortress ahead of the India-Pakistan World Cup cricket match on October 14. Over 11,000 Gujarat Police, NSG, RAF and home guard personnel are being deployed in various parts of the city, including the Narendra Modi stadium, for the high-profile clash.
Security forces are also being deployed in several communally sensitive areas as a precautionary measure.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting with Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi, state DGP Vikas Sahay and other senior police officers in Gandhinagar to review the police’s action plan to ensure that the marquee event passes off without any trouble.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made keeping in mind factors such as the movement of more than 1 lakh spectators at the stadium and a recent threat issued by unidentified persons through an email.
In addition to the 11,000 personnel, three ‘hit teams’ and one anti-drone team of the NSG will also be deployed, along with nine teams of bomb detection and disposal squad.
Four senior IPS officers of the ranks of inspector general and deputy inspector general, along with 21 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) rank officers will supervise and guide the personnel on the match day.
Apart from 13 companies of the state reserve police (SRP), three companies of Rapid Action Force will be deployed as part of our security setup. To help people in case of a stampede, the police have already prepared an evacuation plan and rehearsals are also going on at the stadium.
To respond to any chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies during the match, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be ready.
As per reports, Mumbai Police received an email in which an unidentified sender issued threats to harm the prime minister and blow up the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The sender also demanded Rs 500 crore and the release of notorious gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from jail.
Last month, Gujarat Police registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, 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”.
TRAFFIC DIVERSION
The police also announced traffic diversions for the cricket matches at the Narendra Modi stadium on October 5, 14, November 4, 10 and 19. The diversions will be in place from 11am on match days till 2am the next day.
The notification from the commissioner said the stretch from Janpath T Junction to the main gate of Motera metro station to Krupa Residency and up to Motera T Junction will be closed to traffic. The traffic department said motorists can take the road from Tapovan Circle to ONGC Crossroads to Janpath T Junction, then proceed to the powerhouse and head to Prabodh Raval Circle.
Vehicles will be allowed to move from Krupa Residency to Sharan Status Crossroads and can then head to Apollo Circle via Koteshwar Road.
The notification said only fire brigade, government vehicles, ambulances and emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the closed road.
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