Cops gear up to put cork on betting menace ahead of IPL match in city

Kolkata: With a high demand of tickets for Friday's IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the police have taken necessary steps to check black marketing of tickets.

At the same time, major steps have been taken to avoid betting at certain parts of the city and its adjoining areas.

It may be mentioned that a few youths were arrested a few days ago, when they were found selling tickets of a match at a premium in Maidan area and the police had seized 20 tickets from them.

The police have intensified vigil in different parts of the city and steps have been taken so that the black marketers cannot take advantage of the increase in demand for tickets for Friday's match.

Policemen in plain clothes will be posted at different parts around the stadium. The policemen will be keeping a watch to ensure that no one can sell tickets at a premium to make fast money.

Sources said that officers of the Anti-Rowdy Squad (ARS) are also maintaining vigil at different parts of the city to ensure that people involved in betting rackets cannot function.

At present, the police also need to maintain vigil to avoid online betting as well. The police had earlier arrested a few who used to run rackets involved in online betting and are taking all necessary steps to ensure that online betting does not take place.

According to a police officer from Kolkata Police, different sections of the city police will work together to ensure that the IPL match passes peacefully without any untoward incident.

While ARS and other departments of Kolkata Police will maintain vigil to check black marketing and cricket betting, a large contingent of police will get posted to ensure that safety and security of people coming to the stadium to watch the match.

Policemen of all ranks will remain posted in and around the stadium so that people do not face trouble while watching the match and while leaving the place as well. People have to walk up to the entry of the stadium through proper channels and there are separate arenas for parking of vehicles as well.

Traffic police will also be playing a vital role on Friday, as thousands of people will be approaching the stadium at a time. Traffic sergeants will ensure that no traffic congestion takes place in the city and moreover, there will be movement of many VVIPs in the city.