Obama visit: Mumbai PC miffed by security hiccups due to US men

Upset over the high-handedness of the US security agencies, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal expressed his displeasure to the Maharashtra government, stating problems faced by his men on account of American officials.

Mumbai: Upset over the high-handedness of
the US security agencies, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjeev
Dayal expressed his displeasure to the Maharashtra government,
stating problems faced by his men on account of American
officials, while handling President Barack Obama`s security on
his recent visit to the city.

In a report, submitted to the state Home department, the
Mumbai police chief explained in detail about the stand-off
between the city police and American secret service agents,
while taking care of security at various venues in the city
during Obama visit.
"As the President`s visit ended, a comprehensive report
with regards to the visit and security aspects was prepared by
me on behalf of the city police, which was submitted to the
State Home department," Dayal said.

"In the report, I have also mentioned about the problems
we had to face due to the US secret service agents while
handling the security," said Dayal, who was with the Special
Protection Group and directly dealt with US agencies to ensure
safety of Bill Clinton during his India visit in 2000.

A senior police official, on condition of anonymity said,
"the US agents had behaved rudely and violated the security
norms agreed upon by the two sides at all sites."

For instance, the US security officials had stationed
a sniper on the terrace of St Xavier`s College on Sunday,
despite the security agreement clearly stated that all sniper
positions would be taken care of by NSG commandos, the
official said.

This led to a heated argument between senior city police
officials and US security men after which the sniper was asked
to come down, the official added.

At the Mumbai University, where First Lady Michelle Obama
was a guest on Saturday, US agents did not allow Deputy Police
Commissioner Suhas Warke, who was in-charge of security at
venue, to enter the place after Michelle`s arrival.

"How can they treat the security in-charge like this?
Warke had narrated the incident to the Commissioner, who took
note of it and also mentioned this incident in the report,"
said another official.
When contacted Warke said he explained everything about
the incident to his chief Dayal and refused to comment
further.

PTI

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