Ahmedabad under tight security cordon for India-Pakistan cricket match
Ahmedabad (PTI): Security has been tightened in Ahmedabad and at the Narendra Modi Stadium in view of the India-Pakistan World Cup match on Saturday with the police heads of various units across Gujarat being on "alert mode" to keep a close watch on anti-social elements and sensitive areas to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.
The match is scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium, the world's largest cricket stadium, between 2 pm and 10 pm.
More than 6,000 personnel of the Gujarat police force along with those of the National Security Guard (NSG), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), among others, have been deployed in the city and at the stadium located in Motera area.
Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Vikas Sahay said during his media briefing on Friday that the overall security set-up has been divided into five key pillars - security for stadium and spectators, traffic and parking arrangement, security for the cricket teams, close watch on anti-social elements and making sure that no untoward incident takes place in the entire state.
Various units of police across Gujarat have been instructed to remain on alert mode to keep a close watch on anti-social elements and sensitive areas to avert any untoward incident during and after the match, an official said.
Different security agencies such as Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), city crime branch, and Special Operations Group (SOG) have been roped in to deal with anti-social elements and terrorists, he said.
At the same time, the units of Gujarat police across the state have been directed to be on alert mode after 8 pm tomorrow, as the match ends at 10 pm on Saturday. State Reserve Police (SRP) units remain on "alert position" for a quick deployment in case of an emergency, officials said.
Four senior IPS officers and 21 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) rank officers have been deployed supervise and guide the personnel, they said.
Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police G S Malik said though the city has never witnessed communal violence during cricket matches played in the city in the past 20 years, security forces were deployed in several communally-sensitive areas as a precautionary measure.
To respond to any chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies during the match, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and NDRF will also be deployed in the city.
Earlier this week, the Ahmedabad crime branch arrested a man for allegedly sending an email threatening attack on the Narendra Modi Stadium. The accused had allegedly sent an email claiming that there will be a blast in the stadium.
Last month, the Gujarat Police registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for threatening to turn the Cricket World Cup, unveiled on October 5 at Narendra Modi stadium, into "World Terror Cup".
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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