Bomb disposal squad deployed for first time in cricket match in Asia

Bangalore, Oct 9 (UNI) In the wake of repeated terror attacks in the country, the first Test match between India and Australia today witnessed a bomb disposal squad being deployed for the first time in a cricket match in Asia.

A strong contingent of 2000 police personnel including a 20-member strong Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) came down from Hyderabad and had been kept ready at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium where the much awaited encounter between the two biggest cricket playing nations began today.

The deployment of the ATS comes in the wake of serial bomb blasts in different parts of the country including the one in the IT hub on July 25.

The state had also witnessed a series of attacks on places of worship of a minority community recently.

The ATS experts with modern gadgets that could detect a bomb placed as far as three kilometers away were seen making rounds both inside and outside the stadium.

All the vehicles coming into the stadium were subjected to checks and metal detectors were placed at all the entry points.

Assistant Commissioner of Police S Ramesh told UNI the police personnel were drawn from KSRP, Rapid Action Force, Karnataka Armed Reserve and the local police.

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