Terrorists might slip in as Pak fans: Cops

z In March 2005, 34 Pakistani cricket fans who visited Chandigarh for a Test match went missing

The Mumbai Police have expressed concerns that terrorists could slip into the city in the guise of Pakistani cricket fans making the trip to watch the final of the ICC World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, especially if the Pakistan team progresses into the final.

The police's fears are based on intelligence alerts as well as history. Pakistanis entering the country on valid visas as cricket fans have failed to return home within the stipulated time and have gone missing in India.

"There is a high threat perception for the World Cup final and we have received several inputs from multiple agencies. If Pakistan make it to the final, cricket fans from the country will visit the city to watch the game. One major concern is that terrorists could enter the country posing as cricket fans," said a senior Mumbai Police officer involved in planning the elaborate security arrangements for the match, on condition of anonymity.

In a goodwill gesture, India has provided visas to 5,000 Pakistani citizens for watching the ongoing World Cup matches. When Test teams of the two countries clashed in India in March 2005, as many as 34 Pakistani cricket fans who visited Chandigarh for the first match failed to go back, with security agencies suspecting they could be ISI operatives. Some were eventually arrested, but more than 10 are still missing.

Sajid Mir, an alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attack, is also believed to have secretly visited several places in the country after having entered as a cricket fan during the period. Mir's movements for 15 days are unaccounted for and it is suspected that he scouted several sites during the visit.

According to Home Ministry figures, the number of Pakistanis overstaying in India without reporting to immigration authorities has been on the rise.

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