Punjab Police would be deploying 900 cops including eight superintendents of police besides commandos to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the second ODI.
MOHALI: Punjab Police would be deploying 900 cops including eight superintendents of police besides commandos to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the second ODI to be played between India and Pakistan at PCA stadium here on Thursday.
"We have made adequate security arrangements for the match. While one Superintendent of Police would be incharge of the pavillion area, another SP rank officer would take care of rest of the stadium. Twenty two DSPs would also be put on duty," Punjab's Director General of Police, N P S
Aulakh said at the PCA stadium here today, where he reviewed the arrangements for the match with senior police officials.
Asked if any additional security cover would be given to the Pakistani team members in the light of developments taking place in their country, Aulakh said, "we have already decided to beef up the security of both the teams. We will also be in constant touch with the Chandigarh Police as the teams would be putting up in a hotel in the Union Territory".
Shiromani Akali Dal's acting president and MP, Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is Chairman of the organising committee for the match, also took stock of the arrangements being made for the event here on Sunday.
Aulakh said that additional forces had been called from other districts and deploying of cops in large strength here for the match would not affect the arrangements for maintaining law and order elsewhere in the Mohali district.
He said that CCTVs would be installed in and around the stadium to keep an eye on the crowd movements. The general public has been advised to strictly adhere to the instructions given on their tickets and taking of mobile phones and cameras by the public inside the stadium would not be permitted.
As the match would be played a day before the festival of lights, Diwali, the public has also been advised not to bring any fire crackers with them, which will not be allowed inside.
Though 250 Pakistani cricket fans have been given visas, it remains to be seen how many of them actually come here to watch the match given the developments which are taking place in the neighbouring country.
"Last time some Pakistani fans had gone missing, out of which many returned back to their country, but six are still missing.
This time, they have been given visas for only Chandigarh and Mohali and they cannot go anywhere else. We expect the fans to cross on November 6 and 7 from the Wagah border," Aulakh said, adding they would be kept under vigil once they enter India.
Unlike on previous occasions, the fans are expected to make their own arrangements this time and they will also be required to register with the Mohali police and submit with them a xerox copy of their passports.
PCA president I S Bindra, who also addressed the mediapersons, said 350 private security guards hired by PCA would also be taking care of the internal arrangements on the matchday.
In response to a question, Bindra said the crowds at PCA had always been well-behaved and added they did not forsee any trouble on this front.
Bindra said that while there would be many VVIPs who were expected to come for the match, "PCA will be proud to have Waqar Nisar, son of all time Indian great fast bowler Mohammad Nisar, among us".
"Mohammad Nisar was a champion bowler which India produced much before the country was partioned. It was unfortunate that he died at an early age, but he is not remembered only in India, but holds great respect in Pakistan as well," Bindra said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}