Team appointed to prepare security plan for Mumbai

A group of eight retired IPS and defence officers will formulate a security plan for Mumbai, reports Dharmendra Jore.

A group of eight retired police and defence officers will formulate a security plan for Mumbai and other cities facing terrorist attack threats.

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The basic task before the state-appointed committee will be to recommend proper and better use of the existing police force.

The enhancement of intelligence network will also be the top most priority as the police were blamed time and again for intelligence failure ahead of the Mumbai train blasts.

The ex-defence officers are expected to chip in with their knowledge of cross-border infiltration, terrorist modules and military intelligence.

The State government on Wednesday appointed a study group of five ex-Director Generals of Police and ex-Mumbai Commissioners - V Balchandran, SK Bapat, Ronnie Mendonca, Satish Sahani, Amarajitsingh Samra and MN Singh, and two defence experts - Lieutenant General (Retd) DP Shekatkar and Colonel (Retd) HP Chaudhari.

Mumbai police commissioner AN Roy who is the group convener was not available for comment.

However, a top official from Home Department on condition of anonymity said that the government expected to use the enormous policing experience of ex-IPS officers because most of them have officiated in various major cities. The team will visit these cities and identify the places facing threats.

Since most of these retired officers have worked as Mumbai's police commissioner and know the city well, the recommendations were likely to be more practical and effective, added the official. The group would submit recommendations within next three months.