Terror threat to Jaipur ODI, security beefed up

JAIPUR - Rajasthan police have issued a terror alert for the one-day international cricket match between India and South Africa to be played here Feb 21.

“We do have intelligence inputs, though a bit vague, of a terror threat to the first ODI,” B.L. Soni, inspector general (IG) police, Jaipur, told IANS. The match venue is the Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS).

We don’t want to take any chances, especially after the Pune blast, Soni said, referring to Feb 13 explosion in the Maharashtra city that has claimed at least 11 lives.

Security is being beefed up around the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and other parts of the city. We are on full alert,” Soni said. He said Rajasthan would welcome the players and cricket lovers, and there was no reason to panic.

CCTV cameras and metal detectors are being installed inside the stadium and everyone who comes to watch the match will have to go through security checks.

On Tuesday, a team of officials from South Africa had inspected the stadium and met police officials. They are believed to have expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements.

Intelligence agencies had earlier warned about terror strikes during various sporting events to be held in the country this year, including the Hockey World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. However, Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured all the visiting countries of foolproof security for the upcoming sporting events.