The Free Press Journal

We have more competent cops to handle terror threat: Police chief

- AGENCIES / Mumbai

Ten years after the 26/11 terror attack, Mumbai is safe and police are competent to handle any terror threat, says Police Commission­er Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.

In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country's history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

“We have come a long way in the last 10 years,” Jaiswal told PTI in an interview on the eve of the terror attack’s 10th anniversar­y.

“I can assure Mumbaikars that the city is safe and police are capable of protecting you from any eventualit­y,” he said.

“We have a strong and trained police force having latest equipment, weapons, strategy tactics and are always ready to deal with all the challenges,” he said.

Jaiswal, who served in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), said Mumbai Police has an excellent coordinati­on with all state and central agencies dealing with the city security. The city has a network of around 5,000 CCTVs which help monitor any suspicious activity, he said. Another top police official said presence of police personnel armed with modern weapons at sensitive locations, a standard operating procedure to respond to any distress and enhanced public awareness are key to Mumbai's security.

“The role of police was redefined after the 26/11 attack and there was major overhaul of the city security system,” said Deven Bharti, Joint Commission­er of Police (Law and Order).

“We have created Quick Response Teams, which will be the first to respond in any situation. There is a dedicated commando team ‘Force One’, with capabiliti­es to handle any terror threat and also the coastal police to secure coastal area,” he said.

After the 26/11 attacks, the state government has made efforts to secure the city, Bharti said. “We have a strong CCTV network in the city and each CCTV is connected with the main police control room through an integrated system,” he said.

“In the last 10 years, we have upgraded in terms of infrastruc­ture, logistics and trained manpower,” he said.

Police have procured modern security equipment, gadgets, bullet-proof jackets and latest weapons,” he said.

Anti Terror Cells (ATC) have been set up in every police station to keep a tab on suspected terror movement, he said. The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtr­a Police also keeps a tab on terror-related activities across the state, he said.

There have been cases where youth were radicalise­d by terror outfit recruiters through internet or social networking sites, he said. The ATS is working to bring back such “misguided” youth into the mainstream, he added.

We have a strong and trained police force with the latest equipment, weapons, strategy tactics and are always ready to deal with the challenges — SUBODH KUMAR JAISWAL, Police Commission­er

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