Mumbai, Jan 19: Mumbai police fear some sleeper cells, operating in the city or elsewhere, might strike any
time.
"The terror attacks (November 26) in the city were
meticulously planned and we do not know how many sleeper cells
are operating in the city or in the country, waiting to strike
any time," a senior crime branch officer said.
"We cannot rule out that Mumbai is not under terror
threat. Attacks can happen any time from anywhere.
Strengthening our local contacts is very essential and it is
one of our top priorities. Every tip-off we receive from our
sources is taken seriously," the officer said.
Police have intensified frisking, road patrolling and
combing operations across the city.
According to the police, gun-totting personnel and
bunkers at key locations in the aftermath of the Mumbai
carnage have yielded good results.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said
"as the policemen can be seen every where in the city, crimes
like house breaking, chain snatching and motor vehicles thefts
have come down."
Mumbai police asked to strengthen human network
With the terror threat still looming
large over the city, the Mumbai police have been instructed to
strengthen their human intelligence, said a senior crime
branch official.
"We cannot rule out that Mumbai is still under terror
threat. Attacks can happen any time from any where.
Strengthening our local contacts is very essential and it is
one of our top priorities. Every tip-off we receive from our
sources is taken seriously," said the officer.
"The terror attacks in the city were meticulously planned
and we do not know how many sleeper cells are operating in the
city or in the country, who are waiting to strike any time,"
the officer said.
This is the reason why the police have also intensified
"nakabandis" (vehicle monitoring), road patrolling and combing
operations across the city, he added.
"Police presence on the streets will prevent home-grown
anti-social elements or terrorists from executing their plans.
This is one of the reasons that led to intensify nakabandis
across," another officer said.
When asked, Bala Pachundkar, senior police inspector of
Chembur police station, said, "We also want to create
awareness among the people. Public participation will help
curbing crime in the city. The nakabandis will be relaxed only
after instruction from the higher officials."
Gun-totting policemen and bunkers at key locations as
part of the stepping-up security in the aftermath of the
Mumbai carnage are also yielding good results, police said.
In December last week, the suburban Chembur police seized
32 kg of charas worth Rs 38 lakh and three persons were held,
while suburban Andheri police nabbed two persons for keeping
foreign-made revolvers in possession without license, police
said.
Meanwhile, Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police
(Crime) said, "as the policemen can be seen every where in the
city, crimes like house breaking, chain snatching and motor
vehicles thefts have come down."
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, January 19, 2009, 00:00