After reports about threats, the home ministry is reviewing security for the Hockey World Cup.
No major sporting event to be held in the next few months in the country has any “credible threat” from terrorist groups and the events will take place as usual, home secretary GK Pillai said on Monday.
Silencing sceptics who have been raising the bogey of a terrorist threat to major sports tournaments, the Centre renewed its pledge to provide foolproof security for international events.
Stating that the Centre has taken maximum precautions for events such as the Hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League (IPL) and Commonwealth Games, Pillai clarified that the government had no information about terrorist threats.
“At the moment, there are no credible threats to any of these sporting events in India. But we will take all possible precautions in the coming months,” he said.
On reports about a UK security expert having advised England’s cricketers against participating in the IPL, he said that the government had not received inputs suggesting “new threats” from any terrorist outfit.
Pillai’s statement came as the Pakistan hockey team crossed over to India from the Wagah border on Monday to participate in the Hockey World Cup from February 28.
An 18-member Australian squad, under coach Ric Charlesworth, was the first team to land in the national capital early on Monday, followed by South Africa in the afternoon.
Following reports about terrorist threats, the home ministry had been regularly reviewing security arrangements for the three mega events, particularly after the bomb blast at the German Bakery in Pune.
Home minister P Chidambaram had last week dismissed reports about terrorist threats. “I will provide security to all teams and sportspersons,” he had said.
Despite top home ministry officials dismissing talk of a threat, the security apparatus has focused on the hockey championship that will be first in the series of events scheduled this year.
Fearing that even a minor incident in the tourney could cast a shadow on the IPL and Commonwealth Games and lead to withdrawal of teams, the ministry has left nothing to chance to ensure an incident-free hockey event, the sources said.
The Hockey World Cup will be held from February 28 to March 13; over 400 players and delegates from 10 countries will participate.
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