Gwalior On High Alert As BD-India T20 Match Faces Protests

On Sunday (October 6), the Bangladesh-India T20 match will take place in Gwalior. Local authorities are on high alert in light of protests from several organizations, including the Hindu Mahasabha, against the match being held at the Shri Madhav Rao Scindia Cricket Stadium. Prior to the match, the local district magistrate imposed a ban on protest marches and provocative campaigns on social media until the following Monday.

To ensure safety during the match, over 2,500 police officers will be deployed, as confirmed by a senior police official to the PTI news agency.

The call for the match's cancellation comes from some extremist groups in India, who have alleged attacks and persecution of Hindus following the ousting of the Awami League government in Bangladesh last August. The Hindu Mahasabha even issued a call for a "Gwalior Bandh" to halt the event.

In response to the stern warnings from these extremist organizations, the administration has taken action. A police officer in Gwalior had previously stated, "We will not let a single leaf rustle. You can be assured of that."

Following these declarations, restrictions were put in place, and now, a large contingent of police is being mobilized for robust security. Additionally, the two hotels where players have been staying since Wednesday are being secured.

Speaking about the arrangements, Arvind Saxena, Inspector General of Gwalior Zone, mentioned, "On the day of the match, police personnel will be on the streets from 2 PM. They will continue their duties until the spectators return home after the match. Following the imposition of the ban, surveillance has been intensified, and we are also monitoring social media."

This match will mark the first international game held at Gwalior's Shri Madhav Rao Scindia Cricket Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 30,000. The subsequent two T20 matches in the series will take place in Delhi and Hyderabad.