Gujarat on high alert on Ind-Pak match day: No-drone-flying zone, spl security cover & restricted public assemblies in Ahmedabad

Sources in the airport said that at least 75 chartered flights would be flying in and out of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Saturday. The airport issued an advisory for its regular passengers to “allocate additional time to arrive at the airport” given the “VIPs and passenger movements”.

Special security cover was placed in areas where there could be trouble, even as the respective city police chiefs restricted public assemblies.

Director General of Police Vikas Sahay told mediapersons on Friday that his team has identified “five pillars, which are being given special attention”. “Firstly, security of the stadium and the people who are coming to watch the match… Secondly, after watching the match, the traffic and parking system. We have a huge parking area outside the stadium for people using private vehicles. I would like to appeal to everyone to use the Metro, which will operate near Motera stadium’s gate 1.”

Thirdly, he added, hotels, stadiums and routes used by the Indian and Pakistani players and the support staff have been secured. “Fourthly, during the match, if someone tries to take advantage of the situation and indulge in any illegal activity, we have security in place for that as well. We have taken inputs about terrorist organisations and have kept them in mind and alerted our crime branch, special operation groups and anti-terrorist squads. I would like to assure the people as the head of the Gujarat Police that there is no reason to be afraid,” Sahay said.
“Lastly, there are some places in Gujarat where after the match there could be possibility (of chaos), we have kept that in mind and held meetings with all police officers,” he added.

Given the sensitive nature of Vadodara city, which has been witnessing sporadic clashes, Police Commissioner Anupamsinh Gahlaut on Friday issued instructions to disperse the crowd in victory processions, if any, after the India-Pakistan match.

A senior officer said that prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code are in force in parts of the city, prohibiting assembly of four or more persons. “We have not received any application for any victory procession so far,” the officer added.

DGP Vikas Sahay said, “We have all the troops on alert. Talking about the victory processions, we have left it to the wisdom of the regional police.”

In Vadodara, a team of the Rapid Action Force, four teams of the State Reserve Police Force and over 2,000 police personnel will stand guard in the walled city. The police have also resorted to barricading of the Atal bridge connecting Manisha chowkdi to Genda circle as well as parts of Alkapuri and Akota, among other important locations.

With inputs from Vadodara