Eden Gardens under massive security blanket for IPL match

Kolkata, Apr 20 (UNI) As Kolkata gears up for the DLF-IPL cricket match between Sourav Ganguly-led Kolkata Knight Riders and V V S Laxman-led Deccan Chargers today, an unprecedented three-tier security arrangements have been made in and around the Eden Gardens, -- the venue for the match.

Besides the presence of several international cricketers and other celebrities as well as Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan, the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, what makes police burn midnight oil for extra security cover is the likely arrival of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and her sister Priyanka Vadra.

With about 400 policemen in plain clothes and 4,500 in uniform, there will be a three-tier security arrangement at the Eden Gardens--from the gates to the stadium seats, city Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said.

He said a team of National Security Guards (NSG) arrived in the city last night to take charge of security for Ms Priyanka Vadra and Mr Gandhi. ''We have arranged our officers to liaise with them,'' he added.

According to the Police Commissioner, the way to the dressing room would be sterilised with several officers standing guard. Even the players' journey to the stadium would be kept under surveillance of two escort teams at the front and back of the team bus.

Mr Chakraborty said three senior police officers would be on duty each in the upper and lower tiers of the stadium, while security personnel in plain clothes would be posted in each stand.

''We are not taking any chance. The spectators would get entry only after policemen allowed them, even though their tickets would be checked with laser guns,'' he said.

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