Mumbai: After intelligence agencies asked Mumbai police to be on high alert, the vigilance and CCTV surveillance has been increased in places like airports, railway stations, and other key locations. Heavy police bandobast has been made at junctions in Mumbai, including at the city’s entries and exits. Vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune and Mumbai-Ahmedabad highways are being checked.
Maharashtra Police have issued a high alert in seven cities, especially Mumbai and Pune. In Mumbai, public transport routes, airports and sensitive places, heavy police deployment has been done. A senior cop said, “We do not want to spread panic among the citizens, but have increased nakabandi at various spots. We request citizens to remain alert and inform police in case of suspicious objects in public places.”
Army men have been deployed at sensitive locations in the city, along with local police due to escalated tension on the Indo-Pak border. Along with paratroopers, army jawans are guarding railway stations, airport, the area outside the Western Naval Command headquarters and defence establishments in Mumbai and neighbouring cities.
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, a world’s busiest airport, has also been put on a high alert. The security in and around the international and domestic airports has been upgraded. On Wednesday afternoon, flights to north India were suspended for a while, but were resumed soon, said an airport official. Apart from routine checks, police checked vehicles, cargos and heavy vehicles entering and leaving the airports.
The coastal lines are being monitored closely with heavy police deployed along the coast. Maharashtra Police are paying special attention to areas like hotels, beaches, markets and stations. Reportedly, intelligence agencies have warned railway police to remain alert for the next three months. Accordingly, safety measures have been stepped up.
A senior railway police official said, “We have not been issued any particular threat, but seeing the current situation, we are cautious.” At the Vashi creek bridge, which connects Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, over 50 policemen have been deployed. Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police Sanjay Kumar, said, police have stepped up their security and more importantly, coastal security.
“Apart from various crowded spots in Navi Mumbai, the coastal security has been beefed up too. Vehicles passing through Vashi are being thoroughly checked, as are drivers’ licences. Special attention is being given to ‘suspicious’ heavy vehicles with national permits. Security arrangements have also been stepped up at shopping malls like the Raghuleela and Inorbit malls, as they have received threats in the past, too,” said Kumar.
