Intelligence gathering top priority for Pune police

A year after terrorists triggered the blast at German Bakery, which killed 17 people and injured over 60 persons, the city police has given intelligence gathering the topmost priority.

Although the police with a force of 6,000 personnel continue to suffer from manpower crunch, the department is trying out various strategies, including community policing and reaching out to the common man for intelligence gathering.

Joint commissioner of police, Ashok Dhivare, told DNA that citizens have become more security conscious ever since the GB blast.

“We have been conducting regular security checks at important places, including Koregaon Park, multiplexes, shopping malls, railway stations, bus stands, airport, colleges and corporate establishments.

“The police have also formed the Pune anti-terrorism cell, which focuses on intelligence gathering on terrorists, besides equipping the Quick Response Teams (QRTs) with sophisticated weapons,” he said.

According to the police, since October, newly trained personnel have been assigned to the city’s 29 police stations. Most of them are exclusively for gathering intelligence on terror activities. These personnel have been withdrawn from routine duties. ‘Smart graduates’ have also been recruited, who are Internet-savvy and well-versed with local languages.