Security upped after Saturday violence, more checks at airport

There will be heavy deployment of police in the city today to ensure there is no untoward incident during Independence Day.

There will be heavy deployment of police in the city today to ensure there is no untoward incident during Independence Day.

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Even though security is usually increased on Independence Day, said sources, this year police are taking further precautions than in the wake of the violence at Azad Maidan on Saturday.

Spokesperson for the Mumbai police Nisar Tamboli said nearly 17,000 policemen from various police stations and other departments will be on duty to ensure the day passes off peacefully.

He added that three platoons of the riot control police and 25 platoons of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) would also be deployed at various points. “There is no specific intelligence input of any terror threat or violence but we are taking all precautionary measures,” he said.

Police have also started making preventive arrests and have started round-the-clock patrolling of various areas. They have issued notices to various political parties and activists asking them not to indulge in mischief.

On Monday, police chief Arup Patnaik held a debriefing meeting with all the joint commissioners of police, additional commissioners and the deputy commissioners of police and asked them to be on vigil during Independence Day.