The Mumbai police have placed the country’s commercial capital on a high-alert on Saturday, after they received a tip-off from the central intelligence agencies about a possible threat of a terror strike in public places during the upcoming Navratri-Diwali festival season.
The police have beefed up security in and around the metropolis, particularly at the religions and crowded public places. The police stations across the city have been directed to maintain a strict vigilance at temples, tourist spots and other important locations.
The police on Friday conducted a mock drill at the Crawford Market area, where there are two famous religious sites including the Juma Masjid. “We are also conducting such mock drills in other parts of the city,” a senior police officer said.
In a related development, the famous Siddhivinayak Temple at Prabhadevi in north-central Mumbai has come under a thick security blanket.
Confirming that the Mumbai police had asked the temple management to beef up security in the temple, Sada Sarvankar, the chairman of the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust, said: “We have been asked by Mumbai Police to increase the security at the temple. We have been told to pay attention to all the security arrangements,”
Similarly, the management of the major religious places including temples have been advised to increase their internal and external security detail. The Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police have been asked to keep an eye in their jurisdictions for any suspicious activities.
Security has also been strengthened at railway stations and public installations keeping in view the safety and security of the people.
Apart from the upcoming festivals like Navratri and Diwali, the authorities have also considered the forthcoming State Assembly as one of the reasons for increasing the security in and around Mumbai.
The Mumbai police are not taking any chances in matters relating to security in view of the recurring terror strikes that Mumbai has witnessed over the years. The country’s commercial capital has witnessed 12 terror strikes ever since it had its first brush with international terrorism on March 12, 1993 when 257 people were killed and 713 others injured. The 12 terrorist strikes have collectively claimed a staggering 704 lives and left 2,300-odd people injured, besides a trial of destruction.
Among these terror strikes, the 1993 serial bombings, the twin blasts at Zaveri Bazar and Gateway of India on August 25, 2003, the July 11, 2006 suburban train bombings and the 26/11 Mumbai attack have been major ones both in terms of casualties and loss of property.
In all, 166 people were killed and 300 others injured brazen attack indulged in by the 10 Pakistani terrorists, including Kasab, on various prominent landmarks in the metropolis like Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj and Oberoi-Trident hotels, Jewish centre Nariman House, and popular eatery Café Leopold, between the night of November 26 and the morning of November 29, 2008.
