Mumbai: Police issue terror advisory to schools, malls and hotels

Concerned about the recent terror threats made to the city, Mumbai police have issued security directives to shopping malls, hotels, and other establishments to ensure public safety.

Concerned about the recent terror threats made to the city, Mumbai police have issued security directives to shopping malls, hotels, and other establishments to ensure public safety.

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Police uploaded the seven-page advisory on its official website, which is also directed at schools, hospitals, along with the school and public buses. Separate directives have issued to establishments depending upon the requirements and steps that need to be undertaken, officials said.

The move highlights that security levels across the city may need to be upgraded depending upon the location, background and latest information received.

Commissioner of police Satyapal Singh said, “We want to ensure that the city is safe, and hence we have asked them to follow the steps. The concerned establishments must follow it in their own interests and must abide by them as it is for the well-being of the citizens.”

The police have advised malls and hotels to employ security from registered agencies, and has suggested that the employees — permanent as well as temporary — must be given identity cards having biometric features. The antecedent verification may be checked every three years, according to the directive.

The statement also stresses on the use of closed-circuit cameras with a recording facility in every institution.

Police said they will co-ordinate with school and hospital authorities and those of malls and multiplexes to convince them to follow the advisory.

Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (law and order) said, “The establishments should enhance the security in the premises and around them. It is our duty to ensure a standardised security is maintained in the city.”

Mumbai police on July 11 had conducted a mock drill to check how the police and emergency services act in times of a terrorist attack. Police had also placed several fake bombs in the city limits and the bomb detection and disposal squad was asked to detect and diffuse them.