High security cover at Arthur Road Jail irks locals,traders

A resident said,“Initially,children used to be scared at the sight of security men with bazookas in their hands doing rounds in the area. Heavily armed men near residential areas are a rare sight in Mumbai.”

The most affected is the business community around the prison. They claim their business has suffered a setback in the last 13 months. The sales have dropped by 60 per cent,they said. They even filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking to reduce the security cover in the area.

Suraj Mehta,one of the petitioners and owner of Rich Man clothing shop opposite the entrance gate of the special sessions court,said,“The High Court had directed the formation of a review committee,to be headed by former IPS officer Julio Rebeiro,to look into the matter,but the committee hasn’t met even once.” He added that Additional Commissioner of Police (Central Region) Sadanand Date had even convened a meeting once and had assured us of relief but nothing happened thereafter. Sadanand Date said,“It would be to premature to comment on the subject.”

Mehta added,“My clients are frisked and asked for identity cards causing them inconvenience. Over a period of time,clients have stopped coming to my shop.”

Another businessman,Srinivas Rao,who deals in medical instruments and has a shop on the Jivraj Boricha Marg,said,“Earlier I could get delivery of raw materials for my manufacturing unit at my doorstep. Now,since the road is closed for vehicles,the raw materials have to be unloaded on the main road. The stock then goes through double security checks,sometimes damaging it.”

Sane Guruji Marg has been made one-way for security reasons.

Vishant Nawar,who has a shop named Jayvant Arts,said,“I supply hoardings and signages to corporates. Because of the increased security,my clients have stopped coming to my shop for samples. I have to carry them to the offices which increase my cost. Will the state government pay my losses?”

Residents are of the view that Kasab should be shifted out of Arthur Road Jail to some other secluded prison like in Taloja and Pune,where the state can put up additional security without causing inconvenience to others.