Cauvery issue looms over IPL match

Amidst specific intelligence input that hundreds of people holding tickets could enter the M A Chidambaram Cricket Stadium in Chepauk and indulge in some sort of protests during the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 10, the Chennai police have decided to issue the Public Resort Licence, which is mandatory to conduct the match.

It is learnt that security guards to be engaged by IPL organisers may prevent ticket holders wearing black clothes for the match as there are calls by various political leaders and actors to stage a black badge protest on the Cauvery issue.

With various political parties and Tamil organisations voicing against the conduct of the match at a time when the State was demanding the Centre to establish the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), the police held several rounds of discussions on the threat perceptions.

“The IPL management made an appeal to Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who assured them of adequate security arrangements. The CSK team arrived in Chennai on Sunday and we have made elaborate security arrangements at their place of stay and the venue of the match” a senior police officer told The Hindu.

Citing intelligence inputs, the officer said that at least 2,000 protesters were expected to enter the stadium with valid tickets and indulge in some form of protest.

Tight security

On Sunday, Commissioner of Police A K Viswanathan reviewed security arrangements with senior police officers. Police sources said that Additional Commissioner of Police (South) M C Sarangan, Joint Commissioner of Police (East) T S Anbu, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Triplicane) Parvesh Kumar and others met IPL and stadium authorities and apprised them of the security requirements.

“The police had advised the organisers to install surveillance cameras in all stands and at vantage points in and around the stadium. Since some political parties have urged protesters to wear black shirts, badges or wrist bands, the private security guards engaged by the IPL management may not permit visitors with black shirts or badges,” a police officer said.

He added that cricket fans would not be allowed to carry bags, umbrellas, food items or any article that could be thrown into the field. “Cameras, binoculars and helmets would not be allowed. Police personnel in plain clothes, private guards and volunteers would be positioned in every stand to prevent untoward incidents,” he said.

Parrying questions on whether any advertisement would be given asking fans and visitors not to wear black shirts or T-shirts, he said there was no such condition printed on the tickets.

While the first level of frisking will be done by private security personnel engaged by the IPL authorities, the Chennai police would have door-frame and hand-held metal detectors as part of the second level of frisking. Besides, there would be a four-tier security arrangement in and around the stadium.

Tamil Nadu has a history of protests against IPL matches. In 2013, following widespread protests by students who opposed Sri Lankan players playing in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, who was the Chief Minister then, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that IPL matches would not be allowed in Tamil Nadu if they involved Sri Lankan players, umpires and officials.