CM stares threat in the eye

There were at least a dozen additional police personnel deployed at his residence, Varsha, on Monday. The security ring around Mantralaya was beefed up. But make no mistake. Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is not afraid.

His valour showed through on Monday when the CM announced, “I am not one to cower at anybody’s (e-mail) threat. I am confident about myself and the state. We will go the extra mile to ensure citizens’ security.”

Deshmukh stressed that his government was well-prepared to take on the challenges posed by militant organisations. He would also call on Union home minister Shivraj Patil this week to discuss state security. To ward off any terror threat to the nation’s financial capital, he might even seek financial and logistic support from the Centre, he added.

At his office on Monday, Deshmukh held discussions with top bureaucrats from the state home ministry to assess the situation in the wake of terror threats in Mumbai and Nagpur following the blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. At a closed-door meeting, also attended by chief secretary Johny Joseph, emphasis was laid on greater
coordination between the bureaucracy and the police top brass in the event of an emergency.

The government has urged temple trusts, such as Siddhivinayak, Mumbai Devi and Mahalaxmi, to employ private security as there would be limited police cover. At Mumbai Devi temple, located in  Bhuleshwar, entry and exit have been restricted to just one point each.