Security has been beefed up in Ahmedabad and at the Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of the India-Pakistan World Cup match on Saturday, with police chiefs from across Gujarat on "alert mode" to keep a close eye on anti-social elements and sensitive areas to avoid any untoward incidents, officials said.
The match is set to take place between 2 and 10 p.m. at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi venue, the world's largest cricket venue.
More than 6,000 Gujarat police officers, as well as members of the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have been deployed in the city and at the stadium in the Motera district.
During a press conference on Friday, Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay stated that the overall security setup has been divided into five key pillars: security for stadium and spectators, traffic and parking arrangements, security for cricket teams, keeping a close eye on anti-social elements, and ensuring that no untoward incident occurs throughout the state.
An official added that several police units throughout Gujarat have been asked to be on high alert in order to keep a watchful eye on anti-social elements and sensitive regions in order to avoid any untoward incidents during and after the match.
Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), city crime branch, and Special Operations Group (SOG) have all been called in to deal with anti-social groups and terrorists, he claimed.
At the same time, Gujarat police units across the state have been ordered to be on high alert beginning at 8 p.m. tomorrow, as the match concludes at 10 p.m. on Saturday. State Reserve Police (SRP) forces remain on "alert position" for swift deployment in the event of an emergency, according to officials.
According to them, four senior IPS officers and 21 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) rank officers have been sent to supervise and guide the staff.
According to Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police G S Malik, despite the fact that the city has never seen communal violence during cricket matches in the last 20 years, security troops were stationed in various communally sensitive locations as a preventive measure.
During the match, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be stationed in the city to respond to any chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
The Ahmedabad crime department apprehended a man earlier this week for reportedly sending an email threatening an attack on the Narendra Modi Stadium. The accused allegedly sent an email alleging that a bomb would go off in the stadium.
Last month, the Gujarat Police filed a FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for threatening to turn the Cricket World Cup, which begins on October 5 at Narendra Modi Stadium, into the "World Terror Cup."
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