13 March,2011 07:57 AM IST | | Sayed Roshan
In view of the New Zealand VS Canada match at Wankhede today, the Colaba to Churchgate stretch has turned into a security fortress
Security has been beefed up at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium that is the venue of today's match between Canada and New Zealand. The Taj Mahal Palace & Towers where the teams are being put up has turned into a fortress, with the Mumbai police not in the mood to take chances. A repeat of the 2009 Lahore incident where the Sri Lankan team was attacked is what they are trying to avoid.
An Army commando stands guard outside Wankhede Stadium. Policemen
have been stationed outside the Taj Hotel which is housing the cricketers.
The Canadian team has already arrived while the New Zealand team is
expected this morning. Pics/ Bipin Kokate
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Security en route from the Taj to Wankhede which will be hosting its first match today after being shut for renovation for more than two years, is tight.
This comes after recent intelligence reports that indicate that terrorist group Indian Mujahideen (IM) was planning attacks in the city. The Colaba police are believed to have drawn up a plan to guard the routes through which the cricketers' convoy is likely to pass.
"Local police stations in areas that fall enroute will be on alert on the days that matches are scheduled at Wankhede. Armed policemen will be deployed at sensitive junctions. More than 200 buses and cars have been booked to ensure the cricketers are safe," said a senior police officer.
"From seat belts to fire extinguishers, everything will be made available in the buses that will carry the teams. Their safety is utmost priority," he added.
Commenting on the security measures, Senior Police Inspector Vinod Sawant said, "We have put up more than 10 police vehicles at every junction on Colaba Causeway as well as in and around the Taj. We have also set up bunkers at junctions including Regal and Metro cinema, the Air India junction, Mantralaya, the JJ and VT junctions, and at Wankhede."
According to a circular issued by police commissioner Arup Patnaik, policemen working in bungalows as well those posted at the Director General of Police's office will be temporarily made to pitch in for the World Cup security bandobast.
