Mateen Hafeez TNN
Mumbai: The Cricket World Cup 2011 may be played under the shadow of terror. Intelligence agencies have warned the police about a possible terror strike during the matches, forcing the police to consider declaring south Mumbai a no flying zone, said sources.
A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said the proposal is being seriously considered. The proposed closure over parts of south Mumbai and Navi Mumbai may not affect commercial or charter flights.
The Mumbai air traffic control has not yet received intimation from any of the authorities about the closure, said an official from the Mumbai air traffic control. “Only after we get their request would we know how much of the airspace they want kept off flying limits,” the official said. “The radius and the height of the airspace they want closed will decide whether flights will be affected,” he added.
Rajnish Seth, joint commissioner of police (law and order) said,“We are working out the security arrangements of Wankhede and the police will be alert. We have not yet received any intelligence input about a terror strike during the matches.”
The aviation industry is not expecting flight operations to be affected. Commercial flights do not fly over south Mumbai and charter pilots said the the closure would only affect few corporates who fly down to Alibaug in their helicopters over the weekend
“Though most intelligence alerts are not actionable, we can’t take a chance and have to be prepared,” said a senior police officer. Police sources said they were working on the possible threat, but refused to comment on specific inputs.
The Times of India, February 6, 2011
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