'The police department has made this clear' - Maharashtra home minister refutes reports of threat to IPL in Mumbai

Cricket fans have their eyes on the calendar as the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to get underway on March 26. Owing to the COVID-19 issues, the league-stage games will take place across three venues in Mumbai and one in Pune. On Thursday (March 24), Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil refuted the reports of threat to IPL in Mumbai.

Apparently, some unverified messages on social media had suggested that ‘terrorists’ had conducted recce at Hotel Trident, the Wankhede Stadium and along the bus route between these two venues. However, Mumbai police stated that they have received no intelligence inputs about any terror threat during the tournament. Walse-Patil also confirmed the same during the assembly, assuring IPL matches in Mumbai would be conducted smoothly and safely.

There is no threat to the IPL in Mumbai: Dilip Walse-Patil

“There was news in a section of the media about a threat to IPL in Mumbai or someone conducting a recce….There is no threat to the IPL in Mumbai. Nobody conducted recce, there is no threat from anyone. And the police department too has made this clear,” Walse-Patil said in the Assembly.

In a released issued by Mumbai Police on Thursday, it was stated that the police officials are geared up to ensure full security for the IPL. Moreover, there have been no intelligence inputs about any terror threat. Nonetheless, appropriate security arrangements will be made at the stadiums in the city where matches will be played as well as at the hotels where players and support staff members will be staying.

“There are at least three days when matches will be held at Wankhede and Brabourne stadiums at the same time, and there will be adequate police deployment to avoid any untoward incident, said a police official,” a police official was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

“Prior to the games, police officials have been asked to visit the stadiums as well as the hotels where players are staying, and buses ferrying players would be provided police escort,” he added.