Cricket-Security policemen fall ill with food poisoning

[Bronco]

By Azad Majumder

DHAKA, March 22 ( Reuters) - Around 60 policemen on World Cup security duty in Dhaka fell sick on Tuesday after eating contaminated food, an official said.

The policemen, who were on duty at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Stadium and the teams' hotel, were taken to hospital after eating food supplied by a local contractor.

"The policeman started vomiting shortly after having the food," said Colonel Mesbahuddin, the security chief for the local organising committee. "Around 50 of them were taken to hospital for treatment."

The sick policeman included more than a dozen members of the elite security force, Rapid Action Battalion. The food supplier was taken into custody.

The incident took place on the eve of the first quarter-final between Pakistan and West Indies.

Bangladesh imposed top level security for World Cup teams after the West Indies' team bus was stoned following a group game in Dhaka this month.

(Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)