Mumbai: Maharashtra Government would
recruit 13,000 more policemen from September as part of
efforts to boost security, specially after recent terror
attacks, Home Minister RR Patil informed the State Assembly
here on Tuesday.
"Our police strength is comparatively less than that
in Punjab and Delhi. Starting September, we will begin
recruiting more policemen," Patil said, responding to a debate
on the July 13 serial blasts in Mumbai.
"Those inimical to us know that if Mumbai is attacked,
it becomes news, that is why the city is targeted," Patil
said, referring to the terror attacks on India`s financial
capital.
On the 26/11 probe panel chief Ram Pradhan`s statement
that the state government has not bothered to consult him,
Patil said, "I concede that in my second innings as Home
Minister, I should have discussed the issue with him. I also
feel that even he could have written a two-three line letter
(to us). I would not have ignored it."
Patil informed the House that he, along with Leader of
Opposition would be visiting London to study modern security
practices there. "Both of us would be travelling at our own
expense," he said.
During last year, the state government received 447
alerts from various intelligence agencies, including the
central ones, Patil said. This year, 213 alerts have been
received so far, he added. "Police should be commended for
acting on these alerts and thwarting all threats."
"The July 13 blasts showed us how easy it is to place
a 3-4 kg bomb amid crowds," Patil said. It is not justified to
hold police responsible for everything, he added.
The proposal to install 5,000 CCTVs in Mumbai would
materialise soon, he said. "The experts panel has submitted
its report. In the next few days, the work would be
completed," he added.
So far, 13172 CCTVs are operational in the city,
including 32 at Zaveri Bazar, one of the sites of the 13/7
blasts, he said.
Lauding the role of state police, Patil reminded the
opposition BJP-Shiv Sena members that it was Maharashtra
police which killed terrorists who planned to attack the RSS
headquarters in Nagpur in 2006.
Police had gunned three terrorists, suspected to be
members of Laskhar-e-Taiba. This was after receiving
intelligence inputs from Kashmir, Patil said. "Even Gujarat
Chief Minister Narendra Modi had announced award for our
police," Patil said.
Mumbai is also a favourite destination of foreigners,
the minister said, explaining why the city was targeted. "In
some of the terror attacks, the brains are from across the
border but the hands who carry out the attacks are from
amongst us," he said, in an apparent indication of support the
terror masterminds get from locals.
PTI
