Round-the-clock monitoring by CCTV cameras, strict check on movement around players' dressing rooms with hundreds of policemen posted in and around the stadium - the city police have put in place elaborate security arrangements for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) that starts at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
"We have made elaborate security arraignments for IPL. Besides deploying security personnel at team hotels, more than 5,000 cops would be stationed in and around the stadium during the matches," joint commissioner of police Rajiv Mishra said, adding that 12 teams of police personnel, each headed by a divisional officer, will be positioned inside as well as outside the stadium.
"Besides installing CCTV cameras across the stadium, nine watch towers have been put up at strategic locations," said Mishra.
During the day, police commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha inspected the Eden and held a meeting with his men at the stadium.
"We discussed about ways to coordinate with the various stakeholders like the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and other teams for ensuring smooth conduct of the tournament," Purkayastha said after the hour-long meeting.
He also said that special arrangements were being made to ensure smooth dispersal of the crowd from the stadium after the matches.
"Not only at the stadium, we have made arrangements to ensure the spectators are dispersed smoothly after the games. Since most of the matches will end after 11 p.m., we have taken care to ensure that people reach their home safely and without any inconvenience. We have also talked to the state transport department to ensure availability of sufficient number of buses and taxis," he said.
Purakayastha also said that the police have sorted out issues that it had with CAB earlier. There were some issues about barricades and lighting and some other minor things that have now been sorted out. He denied any problems concerning the sale of tickets.
Following the arrest of six persons allegedly involved in an inter-state cricket betting racket from the city earlier this month, the police were also conducting searches to tackle such rackets.
Besides seven league games, the Eden will host the IPL final. The ground may also host a qualifier/eliminator depending upon home team KKR's progress to the knockouts of the tournament.
