Rajkot: 2100 policemen will be at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) stadium to prevent the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) from using the match to grab the attention of the international audience by disrupting or diverting attention of TV cameras during the third one day international between India and South Africa on October 18.
“Those creating trouble and disrupting the match will be booked for criminal conspiracy. We have records of each and every ticket that has been issued,” Gagandeep Gambhir, Rajkot (rural) superintendent of police, told media persons on Thursday.
Gambhir said those ticket-buyers will also be booked under stringent laws if anyone else coming in their place tries to disrupt the match. Policemen in plain clothes will also be seated among the audience to immediately detain mischief mongers.
Two senior crime branch officials, who are experts in gathering intelligence inputs, will be posted in Rajkot on October 17. Also, another top IPS officer is camping in New Delhi to brief the ministry of home affairs (MHA) about movements of Patidars ahead of the match.
SCA secretary Niranjan Shah, who appealed to the PAAS chief Hardik Patel not to create any problem during the match at a press meet in Rajkot few days ago again repeated his plea.
“I still request him (Hardik Patel) not to do any thing which might disturb the beautiful game. Saurashtra very rarely gets an international cricket match so everybody should be proud that Saurashtra is hosting such an event,” said Shah and added: “This is not the stage to get noticed.”
