Mumbai: With three matches, including the final of ICC World Cup Cricket, slated to be held in the metropolis, which is under the radar of terror outfits, police are mulling banning mobile phones inside the stadium for security reasons.
The issue came up for discussion during a series of meetings held between city police and the match organisers. ACP (Protection and Security) Madhukar Pandey said the police department is considering ban of mobile phones inside Wankhede stadium during the matches.
"There is a possibility of not allowing the spectators to carry mobiles phones with them inside the stadium due to security reasons," he said.
As the financial capital has been under the radar of terror outfits, there is a possibility that these groups may try to strike someway or the other, a senior police officer said. Police are making elaborate security measures for the three ties that would be played in the 32,000 spectator capacity stadium.
DCP Rajkumar Vhatkar said a multi-layer security will be put in place around two-km radius of the stadium during the matches. Food items will not be allowed inside the stadium and there would be restrictions on parking areas, he said.
Apart from the city police, State Reserve Police Force personnel and Quick Response Teams will also be deployed in and around the stadium, the DCP said. On March 13 and 18, New Zealand will play against Canada and Sri Lanka respectively, while the final would be played on April 2.
The foreign teams will be staying at Taj hotel, one of the sites of 26/11 attack, and Taj Lands End. "We have taken extensive security measures to ensure the safety of the players," Vhatkar said.