Govt asks for bullet-proof bus, escort vehicle for Team India

NEW DELHI: With a powerful explosion just a few kms from the Colombo hotel where Team India is staying highlighting concerns regarding the players’ safety, New Delhi on Monday requested the Sri Lankan authorities to provide them with a bullet-proof bus, along with a pilot and escort vehicle for transfers to the stadium and back.

Though the schedule of the matches to be played by the Indian cricket team during the tri-series remains unchanged, security agencies in Colombo will be introducing a slew of safety measures to prevent any untoward incident that may endanger the safety of the players.

Soon after the news of attack, Union home secretary VK Duggal spoke to foreign secretary Shyam Saran on the need to ensure foolproof security for the Indian team during its Sri Lankan tour.

Mr Saran, in turn, got in touch with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner here and conveyed the government’s concerns about a possible threat to the Indian players.

He is said to have requested the authorities in the island nation to beef up the security arrangements at the hotel where the players will be staying and provide them mobile security, besides deploying personal bodyguards for each of the players in case they wanted to venture out individually.

The Indian authorities have also suggested that the Sri Lankan police sanitise beforehand all the places to be visited by the team members. This would include hotels, stadia as well as practice nets. The security staff posted at the Hotel Taj Samudra, where the players are putting up, has been specifically instructed to frisk all guests.

Apart from requesting a bullet-proof bus for players’ transfers, authorities here have requested the Sri Lankan agencies to plan the team’s itinerary keeping all security considerations in mind. This would ensure that there is a requisite security cover each time the players venture out, including in transit.

The Sri Lankan authorities, who have reviewed the security arrangements for the visiting team, have assured Indian agencies that they will take all steps to ensure an uneventful and trouble-free tour for the cricketers.