High security in city for high-voltage T20 match

Kolkata: With several diplomats, VVIPs, and foreign cricket fans pouring into the city for tomorrow’s high-voltage India-Pakistan World Twenty20 cricket tie, high security measures have been taken in and around the city to avoid any untoward incident.

Around 21 police personnel of the rank of Deputy Commissioners (DC), 44 Assistant Commissioners (AC), 130 Inspectors, 414 Sub-inspectors and Sergeants besides 375 ASIs and over two thousand constables including lady police personnel would be deployed for a tight security in and around the city in connection with the India-Pakistan match at the Eden Gardens here, a senior police officer said.

“There will be three Quick Response Teams (QRT) which will be placed on the Stand Road-Auckland Road, near the Police Memorial besides the second Hooghly Bridge,” he said.

Nine watch towers have been erected beside the Eden Gardens stadium while 11 sand bunkers, five police assistance booths and seven ambulances would be kept ready for any emergency cases.

“Gates of the stadium will be opened for ticket holders three hours before the match. All Joint-CPs as well as three Additional CPs will be present there at the venue,” the officer said adding that the overall supervision would be done by Special CP (II) Jayanta Kumar Basu.

“We are keeping no loopholes in our security arrangements for tomorrow’s match. We are not taking any chance. Our intelligence team has been working for the last couple of days and police personnel are on alert,” he said.

Police postings have been beefed up at entry and exit points of the city besides at the airport, major railway stations, metro railways while special branch officials have been posted at the hotel where the two teams have put up.

“Special postings have been arranged at the five star hotel accommodating the diplomats and special guests… There will patrolling teams making rounds around the hotels,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Rowdy Section of Kolkata Police today arrested eight persons from different places in the city in connection with black-marketing of match tickets besides seizing 17 tickets.