Unprecedented security greets players in Kolkata

The arch-rivals take on each other in the second Test match to be played at the Eden Gardens from Friday. Already on high alert in the wake of the recent riots which rocked the city, security measures were beefed up further after the police yesterday got hold of a fresh email threat targeted towards the visiting Pakistan contingent.

The team hotel has been turned into a virtual fortress, and Eden Gardens, the venue of the match, has been turned into a high-security zone.

Despite the fact that the latest e-mail has cast a shadow on the Test match, police officials have decided not to make direct references to it. Says Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) PK Chattopadhyay: “Whether there is an e-mail or no e-mail, security measures for the match had to be at their best. There’s no room for complacency here. Let’s not talk about any specific e-mail threat. Any kind of threat has to be dealt with properly, and our preparations are at their best.”

No wonder, in an unprecedented measure, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) operatives have been assigned to accompany the players of both the teams wherever they go. Even as the teams landed at the airport, from New Delhi, a team of commandos and sniffer dogs were there to greet Kumble, Malik & Co.

There was no respite even as they reached the hotel, with their baggage being put through scanners. That apart, the city police force has deployed special personnel at various “vantage points” of the hotel, while a battery QRT officers are posted at the hotel premises round-the-clock.

During the match, as many as 40 surveillance cameras will be pressed into service at Eden Gardens to monitor “crowd movements”. Chattopadhyay explained: “It’s not a question of increasing the manpower deployed for security. The numbers are already at the highest that is possible for us. It’s a question of sensitisation of security. It means the process of checking, monitoring and observation and keeping vigil has to get sharper at the ground during the match.”

The top cop however was quick to add that despite the foolproof arrangements, the main focus will be to ensure proper security to the players when they go out individually. “When the players are travelling together, there is no problem. Our only message to them is, when you want to go out on individual errands, keep us informed in advance about the plan of action,” he said.