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ShareMumbai: "A lesson has been learnt", a top Mumbai police official said today, adding the security apparatus is well prepared to thwart a repeat of 26/11 after acquiring the latest weaponry and technology worth Rs36 crore.
With intelligence agencies warning of major terror strikes, the top brass of Maharashtra and Mumbai police expressed confidence about meeting any challenge thrown by terror outfits. The first anniversary of the audacious Mumbai terror attack that left 183 persons dead falls on November 26.
The state police chief and Mumbai police commissioner said though the metropolis continued to be on the terror hit-list, the security apparatus was more prepared and alert this time.
"Mumbai continues to remain on the terror hit-list, but the police's response mechanism has improved drastically, and we are much more confident now," DGP AN Roy said addressing a 'security summit' at Hotel Trident, one of the sites of the 26/11 terror onslaught.
Mumbai police commissioner D Sivanandan said, "Last year, there was a lack of preparedness on our part. We never thought there would be an attack of such magnitude. But since then, we have taken numerous steps to strengthen the force."
Stating that Mumbai police had spent Rs36 crore for acquiring the latest weaponry and technology to combat terror since 26/11, Sivanandan said an additional Rs102 crore was likely to be made available by the State government soon to further upgrade the resources.
A Quick Response Team (QRT) having 200 officers and men divided into five groups had been stationed in the city. Force One, Maharashtra's equivalent for the National Security Gaurds (NSG), has also been raised.
Altogether 39 combat vehicles equipped with latest arms and a Global Positioning System (GPS), besides a few dozen bullet-proof vehicles have also been acquired, he said.
Over 150 beat marshals have be appointed for intelligence-gathering and passing it on to concerned departments.
He said while the main control room was being refurbished with latest technology at a cost of Rs1.97 crore, five more control rooms would be set up soon.
Roy said with Mumbai evolving into a "global city", it will remain a target for terror outfits, whose objective was to inflict economic loss on the country by attacking its financial capital and causing disruption of normal life.
