VVIP visits: Cops seek Central help

Fearing communal fallout of the blasts in Mumbai, the Centre today offered the state additional forces, including riot-control Rapid Action ...

Fearing communal fallout of the blasts in Mumbai, the Centre today offered the state additional forces, including riot-control Rapid Action Force, to tackle the situation.

Though the offer was made to the Maharashtra government soon after the blasts, it had not asked for any additional forces till late tonight, expressing confidence that things were under control. However, the already stretched-to-the-limits Mumbai police did make a request to the Centre to juggle the timings of VVIP visits to the metro.

Foreseeing the clash in arrival time of both, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani and Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi, who were slated to visit Mumbai tomorrow, the Mumbai police addressed their concern to the Home Ministry.

‘‘The police there are trying hard to maintain law and order following the blasts and to ensure communal harmony. Then to top it all, if they have to look after the security of the sundry VVIPs visiting the blast site and hospitals, they will probably need additional forces for that,’’ said an official.

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So a request was made from the Deputy PM’s office for Sonia Gandhi to delay her visit by an hour or so. According to sources, the Congress leader agreed to delay her scheduled departure. Now, the DPM will leave at 11.30 am and Gandhi will leave around 1 pm.

Sources in Ministry of Home Affairs, meanwhile, said they were closely monitoring the situation in Mumbai and were in regular touch with the local police and the government. ‘‘We will provide them whatever assistance they require,’’ the official added.

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