Tight security around DY Patil stadium

Against the backdrop of the twin blasts outside Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy stadium, security has been beefed up at the DY Patil stadium, they said.

The two semifinals of the IPL were to be held in Bangalore on April 21 and 22, but have been shifted to Navi Mumbai following Saturday’s twin blasts. The final is to be held on April 25.

After reviewing the security arrangements at the ground, Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) AN Roy said all security measures had been taken to ensure the matches passed off without any disruption. “Ticket-holders will have to come empty-handed as no bags, mobiles and water bottles will be allowed inside the ground,” Roy said.

Stadium authorities have also been given instructions about ‘Do’s and Don’ts’, Roy said, adding that parking facility had been made a bit far away from the ground. However, he did not specify how far away it would be from the stadium.

Responding to a query, Roy said, “It is clear from explosions in Bangalore that the IPL is on their (terrorists’) target list. Keeping this in mind, the required number of police deployment has been made at the venue.”

He assured people of full security and appealed to them not to panic over any rumours. “We are taking no chances and each and every spectator would be thoroughly frisked before being allowed entry to the stadium,” Roy said, refusing to divulge any numbers with regard to security.

Police sources said the ground, with a seating capacity of 60,000, would be manned by over 2,000 police personnel and 1,000 private security guards engaged by the stadium and IPL authorities, and over 60 door-frame metal detectors have been installed.
The State Reserve Force and armed commandos will also be deployed during the event.