600 cops, 24x7 patrols: Women's World Cup on high alert after molestation of Australian women cricketers

NEW DELHI: Following a molestation incident involving two Australian players in Indore on October 23, Navi Mumbai has stepped up security for the remaining Women’s World Cup 2025 matches. The city will host two high-profile fixtures: the India vs Australia semifinal on Thursday and the final on Sunday at DY Patil Stadium.

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The Indore incident occurred when two Australian cricketers were allegedly inappropriately touched at a cafe near their team hotel. The team management promptly reported the matter, leading to an FIR under Sections 74 and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.


The accused, Aqueel Khan, was arrested after a six-hour operation by Madhya Pradesh police. He is now on a two-day remand at MIG Police Station, with authorities noting his previous criminal record.

A senior Maharashtra Police officer in Navi Mumbai detailed the security arrangements: “Since the very first day that is, from October 18th, when practice started here, we have deployed guards at all the hotels where the women players are staying. Apart from that, whenever the team travels from the stadium to the hotel or vice versa, we provide them with an escort. Here on the ground, we have deployed approximately 600 personnel, comprising 75 officers and the remainder as police constables. In addition, if any player wants to go out, they must inform us, and we provide them with protection as well.”

The officer stressed the importance of players notifying authorities before leaving their hotels: “After learning about the incident, actually, we were already taking precautions from the beginning, but sometimes what happens is that players go out without informing the police, and that creates a problem. If they inform us beforehand, we ensure their protection.”

The enhanced measures include 24-hour security and dedicated escorts for all team movements, reflecting authorities’ commitment to ensuring player safety during the tournament’s concluding matches.
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