Countries satisfied with security for World Cup Hockey

Countries participating in the World Cup Hockey tournament in New Delhi were on Friday impressed with the security arrangements made for the event with Pakistan showering praises saying "very good planning" has been done.

Players and hockey associations had apprehensions about the security for the event after HuJI chief Ilyas Kashmiri issued a threat to foreign players asking them stay away from sporting events in India like the hockey tournament, Commonwealth Games and Indian Premier League (IPL).

Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal and Special Commissioner Neeraj Kumar made a presentation on the security apparatus before representatives of the 11 foreign countries which were participating in the mega event.

"We are satisfied. We had concerns on two or three areas. The Commissioner has assured that they will be addressed. Delhi Police had done very good planning," Pervez Bhandari from Pakistan told reporters after the presentation.

Rana Mujahid, a member of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, said all their concerns were addressed and they were satisfied with arrangements at the hotel and Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium near India Gate where the event is being held.

The Australian delegation also expressed similar views with Deputy High Commissioner Lacklan Starhn saying that they were "very pleased" with the comprehensive security arrangements being made for the event.

"Proper assurances have been given. We are very pleased with the arrangements," Starhn said.

Sources said Dadwal and Kumar briefed the representatives from various countries about the four-tier security structure for the venue.

They are also understood to have told the delegation that around 19,000 police personnel, including 200 sharpshooters from the National Security Guards, will be deployed for the security.

The members visited the stadium and the five-star hotel where the players will be staying.

Besides India and Pakistan, Hockey majors like Germany, Britain and Australia are among the 12 teams fighting for the championship.

The World Cup Hockey is being considered as a "dress rehearsal" for Delhi Police ahead of the Commonwealth Games in putting in place a security apparatus and planning traffic for the mega event.

Taking no chance, the city police has chalked out an elaborate security and traffic plan for the event which will be held from February 28 to March 13.

Over 100 CCTVs will be installed in and around Dhyan Chand stadium during the World Cup to keep a track on the movement of spectators, the official said.

While 75 CCTVs will be fixed cameras, 30 will be Pan-Tilt-Zoom cameras with night vision and recording facility, the official added.

Armed policemen will accompany hockey players in their team buses which will take them from their hotel to the stadium to ensure fool proof security, the sources said.

The buses which will pick up the players from Le Meridian Hotel, where they will be staying, will also have a police escort for their nearly two-kilometre journey to the stadium.