The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium at Mohali looks like a war zone. The airspace over the tri-city (Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula) has been declared a no-fly zone with Indian Air Force choppers on operational stand-by for surveillance.
The India-Pakistan epic World Cup semi-final clash on Wednesday is expected to witnessed by Prime ministers of India and Pakistan besides a host of VVIPs.
The security agencies have gone about securing the city before tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final clash. At Mohali, water-tight security has been put in place. Multi-layered security has been thrown around the stadium, including Special Protection Group (SPG), National Security Guard (NSG), central and state police forces.
Around 100 black cat commandos of NSG and 1,800 Punjab Police personnel will make two separate layers outside the venue.
“The security of Mohali stadium will match the ones we had for the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Commonwealth Games’ inauguration and closing ceremonies backed by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to detect any airborne object”, said a top official.
UAVs To Be Deployed
Times of India reported that the National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) has been given the task of air surveillance and it is expected to use Israeli-made unmanned air vehicles (UAV). The UAVs – also during the Commonwealth Games last year – are also capable of detecting airborne aggressors.
“With high-profile dignitaries watching the match, we have made water-tight security arrangements,” said Mohali’s Senior Superintendent of Police, GPS Bhullar. Anti-aircraft guns will be placed strategically and NSG commandos will join a large number of security personnel to guard the stadium, which will be primarily taken over by the elite SPG.
Security personnel also positioned themselves on rooftops in adjoining buildings of the stadium to maintain strict vigil. Anti-sabotage teams, police, 150 CCTV cameras, Quick Reaction Teams, bomb disposal and sniffer dog squads would be in place as part of fool-proof security, which also included drawing up of contingency plans to meet any untoward situation.
With archrivals facing each other after a long gap as bilateral action between the two nations had been suspended in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, cricket mania has been touching new heights with each passing day.
‘We have specifically told officials of hotels and guest-houses to take identity proofs of patrons and their mobile numbers. Instructions have been given that mobile numbers should be checked immediately by hotel officials so that nobody gives them a fictitious number,’ a senior UT police official told reporters.
Meanwhile, the two day Home Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan began in New Delhi. Indian side was led by the Home Secretary G.K.Pillai whereas Qamar Zaman Chaudhary, secretary interior, Pakistan led the visiting delegation.
Issues such as terrorism, narcotics control and counterfeit currency are among the items on agenda.
