Gujarat police have turned the city into a fortress, with the IPL Qualifier-2 and final to be held at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Motera, as well as high-profile visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 and the Union Home Minister over the weekend.
About 5,210 police officers and personnel will be deployed for security arrangements of all three high-voltage events.
Senior officials said that for all three events — PM Modi’s visit and Amit Shah’s visit to the city — one DIG rank police officer, 47 SP rank police offices, 84 DSP rank officers, 222 inspectors, 686 PSIs, 3,346 constables, and 824 women police officers will be deployed.
Police said apart from the arrangements, three Quick Response Teams (QRT), five hit teams of Chetak Commandos, 9 companies of SRPF and 28 teams of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed at the locations for the IPL matches, Rajkot and Gandhinagar where PM Modi will visit, and at Naranpura were the Union minister will visit.
DGP Ashish Bhatia said all officers have been instructed to be on alert for all the high-profile events.
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Jayesh Khadia said two firefighters will be deployed in the parking area near the Motera stadium and two at the ground. “In case PM Narendra Modi arrives at the stadium, one more firefighter will be deployed at the ground. We have checked all fire-fighting systems at the stadium and found them to be fully operational,” he said.
Security rehearsals have begun, according to city police sources, even as SPG officials entrusted with the PM’s security have already arrived in the city.