A huge turnout of foreigners is expected for the final match of the cricket World Cup to be played at Wankhede Stadium on April 2. In view of this, the city police commissioner Arup Patnaik has started a drive for a makeover of the police image. He has decided to have only well-mannered and presentable cops on security duty on the D-day, said police sources. Policemen who are in the habit of chewing gutkha or tobacco will be ruled out.
According to police sources, in the last meeting with senior police officers, the commissioner briefed them about security measures to be implemented at the stadium for the final match. He had also pointed out that several foreigners are expected to come for the match, and so the image of the city police has to be taken care of.
“The commissioner has asked all deputy commissioners to choose tall, well-built and slim policemen for the bandobast duty. They should look healthy and be seen as competent. There is a tendency among our policemen to behave rudely at times. However, this is going to be an international event, and so the city police should look good and behave well,” said a senior police official.
He added that utmost care has been taken in this regard, as cricket aficionados from across the world are expected to come for the match. “The commissioner said that our policemen should look smart, young and energetic. They should be able to communicate well with people, including foreigners,” said the official, adding that the commissioner has strictly prohibited overweight and tobacco-chewing policemen from World Cup duty.
Around 1,400 policemen will be on bandobast duty around the stadium. The traffic police have chosen nearly 100 good-looking policemen, with good communication skills, for the job. “Foreigners will be required to walk to the stadium, as vehicles will not be allowed close to the venue. As a result, we have chosen these men especially to guide spectators to the stadium,” said an officer from the traffic police.
Patnaik himself has been taking stock of the security for the World Cup matches and has also visited the site on a few occasions.
