Commuters lend eyes and ears for My Mumbai

“After the attack we were angry and wanted to contribute in some way. Since we commute daily,we thought of offering the police and the railways our help in security,” says Shashikant Deshmukh who works at Mazgaon dock and lives in Panvel.

The idea came after a group of regular commuters met the GRP and said they wanted to help. “The common man isn’t alert. A man like Kasab should ideally have been stopped right at Macchimar Colony,but he walked into our city and killed people,” says retired serviceman Bajirao Thokal,one of the founders of the group. “Terrorists are outsiders and don’t have our understanding of the city. Someone obviously gave him information on the locations. If we are alert and find a suspicious person doing a recce we can alert the police immediately.”

Another group to help the railways,Railway Pravasi Mitra,hardly meets and has become almost defunct,members admitted.

Around 80 per cent of Mumbaikars travel on trains and the need for a watchdog was felt after the 7/11 train blasts,the 2004 attacks in Ghatkopar,Mulund and Vile Parle,and the 26/11 attack on CST. “Almost the same people travel in the same train everyday. The public has lakhs of eyes and ears and we can definitely alert the police,” said Uttam Sable.

My Mumbai Brigade’s 250 members meet regularly and take the GRP’s guidance on security. The GRP offers outside support with information on the duties of the railway police and the railway administration and contact details.

Members discuss the group with friends and colleagues and hope it can grow. “We encourage only those who can commit themselves,not strangers. New members must know someone already in the group,” said Sadashiv Malgaonkar.

Members said they want to expand across Western and Harbour Railway too. Once there are enough,batches will be formed for first aid and self-defence,with each member getting a photo ID card and a sport cap with the MMB logo.