Foolproof security in festive season

The festive season has started with Navratri and policemen and security personnel are being deployed throughout the city to avoid any untoward incident, and prevent any terror attack.

There is a possibility of an attack as huge crowd is expected at several Navratri mandals and Durga Puja pandals during this season.

Police officials are being deployed at garba venues as per their knowledge of the locality. Most of the policemen would be in plainclothes in areas where large crowd is expected.

“We have been asked to create more informers in the localities, so that any small development or movement could be tracked. Human intelligence network would help keep a track on the movements of anti-social elements in the area and prevent any illegal activities,” said a police officer.

According to the notification issued by the Mumbai police commissionerate, nine hundred additional policemen will be deployed on the eighth and ninth day of Navratri as huge crowds will be visiting pandals and temples on these two days.

To maintain smooth traffic movement in the city, cranes will be kept stationed at important junctions and put to use when needed to clear the traffic in cases of car breakdowns. Police have appealed to all the mandals to register with local police stations. Use of loud speakers has also been banned in silent zones.

“Other than policemen, 2,100 homeguards have been deployed to maintain the crowd and prevent incidents of eve-teasing and molestation as a large crowd of youngsters is expected at the Navratri mandals,” said a senior police officer.

He added “To control a riot-like situation, the Mumbai police gas squad has been kept on stand by and will be put to use if the situation arises”.