The Mumbai Police, this Diwali, are paying special attention towards crowded markets as a part of their anti-terror measures during the festive season. Police officials said that they are in a state of general alert as festivals like Diwali have always been regarded as sensitive times in India. Additionally, in September this year, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri released a tape in which he claimed that the terrorist outfit had set up a new branch in the Indian subcontinent. Shortly thereafter, the National Security Guard also voiced concerns about the Al Qaeda collaborating with the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) and other outfits to attack India. According to police sources, Diwali is one period during which large plastic bags and duffel bags are carried around by thousands in the city as they shop in bulk for the festival, and these are being strictly examined this year to check if they indeed contain innocuous festive wares. Mumbai Police Spokesperson DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni added, “Personnel manning our nakabandis and those tasked with conducting random checks have been instructed to carefully examine the contents of large bags in crowded markets where people shop in large numbers. gautam.mengle@expressindia.com
