MUMBAI, 7 March 2008 — The Maharashtra government has set up a special security cell to look after the safety of athletes participating in the third Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Pune from Oct. 12 to 18. The panel was set up after intelligence reports warned of terror threat to athletes.
Senior home department officials told Arab News that the decision followed reports by federal and state intelligence agencies to the state government saying that terrorists were planning to attack high-profile national and international athletes who were expected to participate in the games. Approximately 13,000 athletes from 71 Commonwealth countries are expected to participate in the event.
The security cell will be headed by the principal secretary (home). He will be assisted by senior officials from the home department, police and the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
