09 March,2009 06:41 AM IST | | Agencies
City police form special squads to be on call in case of a terror attack and to ensure that foreign visitors are not troubled, the Mumbai Mirror reported today.
The special squads have been deployed at Gateway of India, Hotel Taj, Churchgate station and others, to ensure that in case of an attack, cops will be able to respond in five minutesu00a0
They are the most favourite tourist destinations in the city and therefore the most likely to be attacked by terrorists. Keeping this in mind, Mumbai police have deployed special squads at Gateway of India, Hotel Taj Mahal, Churchgate station and others, to ensure that in case of any attack, cops will be able to respond in as less as five minutes.
While at it, cops will also ensure the safety of tourists.
Five jurisdictions have been identified in south Mumbai and the squads in plain clothes, assisted by teams of armed commandos, patrol the spots.
Deputy commissioner of police Zone I, Vishwas Nangre Patil confirmed deployment of special squads. A senior police officer said, "These commandos have been provided with two-wheelers and four-wheelers and are always on the move. Their presence deters trouble-makers."
He added that police patrol units, fitted with GPS, have also been told to remain alert and can reach any spot within five minutes.
In addition to terror threats, the cops have been told to prevent petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and bag lifting.
"The movement of police in civil clothes has reduced street crime by almost 50 per cent," said Dipak Vishwasrao, senior police inspector of Colaba police station. He said that eve-teasing, bag-lifting and chain snatching too have nearly stopped.
South Mumbai's secure zonesu00a0
