Police to restrict parking in city from August 2

In the backdrop of the July 13 blasts, parking restrictions will come into effect from August 2, a day after the holy month of Ramzan begins.

In the backdrop of the July 13 blasts, parking restrictions will come into effect from August 2, a day after the holy month of Ramzan begins.

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In a first, the Mumbai police administration has issued a directive to all the police stations and ancillary units across the city to follow a series of precautionary measures during Ramzan. Earlier, parking restrictions were only enforced during Ganeshotsav. The directive was published in the daily police bulletin, Police Pathak, on July 27.

As per the directive, police stations have been asked to ensure that no vehicle is parked in the vicinity of institutions/places where people offer namaaz during the month. This is being enforced because during the July 2006 blast in Malegaon, the bombs had been planted on cycles near a burial ground where Muslims were offering prayers, the directive said.

The police have also been asked to co-ordinate with housing societies and real estate agents and have been asked to keep a watch and verify the antecedents of tenants who hire flats during this month. Police suspect such accommodation could be used for terrorist activities and those who help them in securing the accommodation could unsuspectingly become party to the crime.

Heavy deployment of plain-clothed policemen will be made at BEST stop sheds and depots where suspicious people should be frisked and questioned, the directive adds. Moreover, BEST buses connecting railway stations should be checked at the depots and at their terminating points.

On Eid (August 31), special barricades would be put up at the Gateway of India and at Girgaum Chowpatty.