Mumbai: With the ICC Cricket World Cup final
to be held here expected to draw the attention of the world,
city police chief wants to utilise the opportunity to present
his force in a "correct manner" by deploying fit, good looking
and soft spoken cops in and around the Wankhede stadium.
As foreigners and dignitaries are also expected to be in
the ground in large numbers to witness the match, Police
Commissioner Arup Patnaik had in his last meeting told his
subordinates that the image of the force had to be taken care
of while guarding the Wankhede stadium, police sources said.
In the wake of terror threat lingering over the final,
Patnaik himself has been reviewing the security arrangements,
an IPS officer said.
"He (Patnaik) is showing personal interest in each and
every aspect of security for the ground. During a meeting, he
told that fit and good looking cops should be deployed in and
around the ground. The close areas of the ground will also
find neatly dressed and clean shaved cops," the officer added.
While New Zealand have already played against Canada
and Sri Lanka on March 13 and 18 here respectively, the
Wankhede stadium will host the final on April 2.
Among the 1,500 policemen to be deployed at the ground,
the Commissioner has strictly prohibited overweight and
tobacco-chewing policemen from doing duty at the match venue.
Following intelligence inputs that terror elements may
park explosive-laden vehicles near the ground, spectators will
have to park their vehicles either near Inox mall, Nariman
point area or near Azad Maidan, areas located at least one
kilometre away from the ground.
"As we want to put our force's image in a correct manner
before the world, we have chosen good chaps from the traffic
department to guide spectators to the ground as parking would
not be allowed anywhere near the ground," an IPS officer in
the traffic department said.
Patnaik was unavailable for comment.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 12:25