In preparation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony—the grand inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya—the Mumbai police have heightened security throughout the city. Sensitive areas are being patrolled 24×7 and preventive measures are being implemented to maintain law and order. Following the Babri Mosque demolition in 1992, Mumbai faced significant challenges in 1993, including major riots and terrorism, in response to the mosque’s destruction.
According to sources, the city police have cancelled leaves to ensure an increased presence of police personnel on the ground, keeping a vigilant eye on potential miscreants. “We have implemented robust security measures to prevent any untoward situations. Our focus is to maximise the presence of police personnel and maintain round-the-clock patrolling,” said Satya Narayan Chaudhary, joint commissioner (law and order).
Sources said that the city police have stationed the reserved force which includes the State Reserved Police Force (SRPF) and the Riot Control Unit. The police have not disclosed the number of reserved forces deployed in the city. While reserved forces will be removed after a day or two, patrolling by city police will continue for around a week.
Tabs on social media
Apart from the city police’s presence on the road and patrolling in sensitive areas, the Special Branch and the cyber wing are keeping a close eye on social media. The agencies are taking suo motu cognisance of content that can disturb peace and harmony in the city by taking it down and reporting it to the concerned social media platform.
“Around a thousand posts aimed at disturbing the peace have been removed. Teams are working to trace social media handles. To our surprise, some international handles are also sharing posts to instigate communities and disturb the law and order situation,” said an officer.
Senior police officers are engaging in extensive meetings following intelligence inputs suggesting a potential terror threat across India, with the city being a prime target. The city police are conducting meetings at various police stations and discussions with religious leaders. An officer said, “During such events, we convene Aman committee meetings at every police station and provide specific directions. Roping in communities for help during security deployments has consistently proven beneficial.”
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