Wankhede stadium to resemble a fortress for Cricket World Cup 2011

South Mumbai will be a nofly zone during the coming cricket World Cup. Especially Wankhede Stadium which will be under a thick security blanket. In fact, a hawk's eye will be maintained by the Mumbai Police at Wankhede, in the last week of February and first week of March.

Apprehending that terrorists could strike either through land or water or air, snipers positioned at strategic locations and armymen with anti- aircraft guns perched on roofs of buildings surrounding the stadium, will maintain a vigil against a terror attack during the matches played at Wankhede stadium.

A senior police official disclosed that no chances are being taken as far as securing Wankhede stadium, spectators and players against a terror strike or abduction attempt by terrorist groups from across the Indian borders are concerned.

Though there are no concrete intelligence reports on a terror strike during the matches, police are taking no chances and are seeking the assistance of the army to avert a terrorist attack in the form of a suicide attack, abduction, blasts and a terror strike either from air or water.

However, police will be relying on its Quick Reaction Team (QRT) and Force One commandos to meet any eventuality arising due to a terrorist attack and has not made a requisition to the Centre to deploy the elite National Security Guard at the stadium.

" We have formed dedicated teams of policemen from city and state force including QRT and Force One personnel to secure in and around the stadium during the matches. We have sought the assistance of some retired middle- level police officials to augment the security blanket around the stadium.