Edgy,Mumbai not taking any chances

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also appealed to citizens to avoid carrying bags or luggage while visiting Ganapati pandals in major cities across the state. The move comes following a security review by Chavan at Mantralaya.

The CM said people will be frisked at large pandals and may not be permitted to enter if they carry bags. People have been asked to alert the police if they spot unidentified objects in parking lots.

Chavan said,“I request people to maintain calm and cooperate with security agencies. People with bags and luggage will not be allowed to enter large pandals and will also be frisked.” He said wherever possible,immersions will take place in a timed and phased manner to ensure crowd control. “Processions for immersions should be planned and progress as per schedule. It will help in crowd control,” he said.

GRP cancels leave,RPF on high alert

The Government Railway Police (GRP) have cancelled all holidays of employees and asked those on leave to report for duty. GRP Commissioner Prabhat Kumar said security at all railway stations has been beefed up. “Special teams have been formed. We have increased baggage checking and asked our officers to check bags of anyone who looks suspicious,” said Kumar.

He also revealed that the GRP is working with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the city police. Chief Security Commissioner of the RPF (Western Railways) Mahim Swami said all leaves have been cancelled and their personnel have been asked to work for longer durations. “We have told all our officers to remain alert,” said Swami.

Security at Sessions Court lax,say lawyers

The Sessions Court in South Mumbai,which sees several high-profile undertrials every day,has poor security cover. With as many as eight entry points and vehicles parked around the court premise,anyone can enter the building without being stopped or frisked. “Security is a problem. One can not feel safe until the court is manned by security forces,” said Chief Public Prosecutor Kalpana Chavan.

A five-storeyed structure houses both criminal and civil courts,where hundreds of litigants and accused are present. “This is not the first time that the Delhi High Court was attacked. With so many accused and their relatives coming to the court,the state should at least have metal detectors and CCTVs at the gates,” said Sajid Waqar,one of the litigants. Many also complained that the advocates don’t follow the security protocol. “Even though they have been allotted a parking space,lawyers still park their vehicles in the bylanes,” said a lawyer.

In the past,two persons had entered the court premises with revolvers allegedly to free a man booked for killing a lawyer. After a timely tip-off,the accused were apprehended on the premises. “Despite the incident,no security measures were put in place,” added Chavan.

Man caught at pandal under scanner

The Mumbai Police are checking the antecedents of a 33-year-old man arrested from Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati pandal for carrying a weapon.

Pashupati Pandey,hailing from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh,has been residing in Mumbra for at least a month,but had not registered his weapon with the local police.

Senior Home Department officials said the incident had been taken up seriously by the police. “He has been living in Mumbai but did not register his weapon with the police. We are checking his antecedents with the UP Police,” said a senior official.

Pandey was arrested on Sunday after police spotted him carrying a .32 bore revolver loaded with five bullets at the high-security pandal. He could not give satisfactory answers to the queries relating to the weapon. During inquiry,Pandey told the police that he was looking for a job in Mumbai.

After the blast in Delhi,security has been beefed up at the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal as well.