Police chief puts cell phones of Wankhede cops on silent

Furious with his men on bandobast wasting time talking on mobile phones, Mumbai police chief Arup Patnaik has warned his men in khaki to keep their mobile phones on silent during the World Cup match bandobast at Wankhede.

The first match at the stadium will be played on Sunday.

Patnaik visited the stadium on Wednesday to take the stock of the security arrangements made by the Mumbai police during the match. He learnt that most of the men on duty were neglecting their duties to talk on their phones. Post this, the commissioner issued a special circular on Thursday.

Patnaik added that only senior police inspectors and superiors will be allowed to use mobile phones during bandobast duty.

"If a majority of the police personnel on duty is busy talking to their relatives and friends, it will divert their attention from the security duty. Any anti-social or anti-national elements will take a chance to create major problem in and around stadium," pointed out a senior police officer on the condition of anonymity and added that the circular was issued by the city police chief for security purpose.

However, Patnaik was not available for comment.

More than 1500 personnel including personnel State Reserve Police Force, Force One, Special Branch and Protection branch with BDDS team and sniffer dogs will maintain the tight security at Wankhede stadium.