India vs Pakistan: Police on 'alert mode' across Gujarat for World Cup game

Keeping in view the high-voltage India-Pakistan showdown, police heads of various units across Gujarat have been instructed to be on “alert mode” and keep a close watch on anti-social elements as well as sensitive areas to avoid any untoward incident during and after the ICC World Cup match between the two rivals to be played on Saturday (October 14) in Ahmedabad, state DGP Vikas Sahay said.

More than 6,000 personnel of the Gujarat police force along with those of the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), among others, will be deployed in Ahmedabad and at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera area during the match, he told reporters in Gandhinagar on Friday (October 13).

According to him, the overall security set-up is divided into five key pillars - security for the 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 the 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. All the State Reserve Police (SRP) units stationed at their headquarters in different parts of the state have also been put on “alert position” for quick deployment in case of any emergency situation, 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. Though there is ample parking space at the stadium, the DGP urged the spectators to use the metro train service as the station is just opposite the stadium's gate.

Earlier on October 9, Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik had said four senior IPS officers of the ranks of the inspector general and the deputy inspector general along with 21 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) rank officers will supervise and guide the personnel on the match day in Ahmedabad. To respond to any chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies during the match, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and NDRF will also be deployed in the city, he had said.

Earlier this week, the Ahmedabad crime branch arrested a man for allegedly sending an email threatening an attack on the Narendra Modi Stadium in the city. The accused had allegedly sent an email claiming that there would 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 agency inputs)