IPL 2023: The Delhi Police underwent a special operation where the cops disguised themselves as normal fans in order to nab racketeers who were selling IPL match tickets outside the stadium at exorbitantly high prices. Every year during the Indian Premier League, a special task force is formed by the Delhi Police to counter these black ticket marketers. Earlier in May, the Police team went on to arrest 25 betters from the stadium. Follow Indian Premier League 2023 LIVE Updates on Insidesport.IN
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A special 20-member Polie squad is formed every year prior to the start of the IPL whose main task is to reduce illegal ticket selling aka black marketing of tickets.
“For four or five days every week before a match, members of this wing gather intelligence about potential crimes that could happen at the stadium. On the day of the match, while spectators watch the match, these 20 policemen – an all male force – watch the spectators,” said Sanjay Kumar Sain, deputy commissioner of police (central).
During the initial phase of IPL 2023, the Delhi Police went on to register 6 FIRs and arrested 42 people associated with the black marketing tickets.
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“The stadium, with a capacity of around 55,000 spectators, is guarded by about 700 Delhi Police personnel on every match day. The 20-member wing works independently of these 700 people. “Most of these crimes unfold in plain sight. So, we dress up as spectators,” said a sub-inspector part of the special team.
“We paint our faces with logos, wear jerseys and carry flags,” said a team member. Before spectators enter the stadium, they begin spreading out, either in groups of twos or individually, but always guarded by other colleagues in uniform who stay at a distance and keep watch.
One of the police officers went on to reveal that the easiest way to nab a racketeer is to blend well in the crowd and start observing everyone. On 20th April, 3 people were nabbed after being found with 24 match tickets and selling them at thrice their market price.
“If a person seems suspicious, we peep into their cellphone screens,” added the officer. “We look for those frantically making calls, or typing away on their screens at the end of every ball.”
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