Got 21 terror alerts for Cup final: Patil

The Maharashtra government received 21 terror alerts for the World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2,including one that said terrorists could sneak into the Wankhede Stadium using forged passes,leading to the police scrapping all accreditation issued by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and introducing biometric passes at the last minute.

The alert about terrorists using forged passes had come from another state,Home Minister R R Patil told The Indian Express. We ensured that even the entry passes were checked to see that they were genuine, he said. The sea was sealed,a no-fly zone was declared and with the help of central agencies we were able to do a good job.

The Mumbai Police move to reject the ICC passes had angered some organisers as it meant that about 4,000 people including VIPs such as ICC chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar had to get their fingerprints scanned and secure fresh passes less than two days before the big match. Mumbai Police officials worked through the night to prepare the new passes.

On Tuesday,Patil called up Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik and asked him to send a message on the wireless network to boost the morale of the police force for a job well done.