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Racing on all fronts, assures Mumbai police chief

Q&A: D Sivanandan, Police Commissioner, Mumbai

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Palak Shah Mumbai

D Sivanandan, a1976-batch IPS officer, was brought in as police commissioner of Mumbai with the prime mandate of securing the city from further terrorist attacks. Five months into his job, he appears to have turned Mumbai into a fort. One of the few policemen who can boast of personal access to a far-reaching information network, he talks to Palak Shah about what is being done. Excerpts:

What are changes have you made to ensure another 26/11 does not take place?
We have created an entire new division of counter-attack force. There are 39 new bulletproof troop combat vehicles manned by 585 personnel, 24/7. These are armed with GPRS and other high-tech devices and placed in 39 different zones of the city. Five quick response teams of 1,000 other commandos have been formed to tackle any emergency. There are vehicles which can be used on any surface, weather, ground, water or mud.

 

Earlier, the bomb detection and disposal squad was ensconced at the police headquarters. Now, 13 new BDDS squads have been deployed in 13 different zones. Commandos in charge of combat operations have been armed with state-of-art weapons — MP5 and M82 sniper rifles, colt machine guns and bulletproof jackets of level 3-plus, amongst the best quality. A plan to place 1,000 CCTV cameras at all the important points in the city is underway.

I have been regularly delivering security lessons at Indian Merchant Chambers, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industries and Indo-American Chambers.

The 26/11 attack was considered a major intelligence failure. What are you doing to upgrade this branch?
There was intelligence failure but not on part of Mumbai’s or the state’s police. We cannot go to Pakistan and track down terror outfits; that is the work of central intelligence and other agencies.

However, gathering intelligence cannot be left to chance. For the first time there would be policemen dedicated only to intelligence gathering. We have started a intelligence academy in Pune at a cost of around Rs 15 crore, which is now operational. While a batch of 55 trained officers are already out on the streets, another batch of 85 men would be out soon.

The strategy of collecting intelligence through social networking, one of the most effective ways, is also in place. We are closely working with various groups like Sagrai Suraksha Dal, Fishermen Association, Slum Panchyat and so on, which can become the eyes and ears of the force. Moreover, I have been taking personal interest in mass contact programmes and we have launched several websites for awareness of pro-active youth and elderly citizens. A channel for internal communication and to boost the morale of over 75,000 police officials was also created through a monthly magazine, where I make remarks on day to day working and other issues.

During every attack on Mumbai, from the 1993 bomb blasts, the sea route has been used for landing of arms and ammunition. It is also a chief entry point for other smuggled goods.
We have identified the key persons and their landing operations in Mumbai’s docks. our strategy with regard to this is in place. However, talking much on this could send signals to my enemies. While nine police boats were patrolling the coastline of Mumbai after the attacks, four more bulletproof boats are on way. While there is no organised crime taking place like earlier, it is still my priority to secure the city’s coast line and see no smuggling takes place.

What is the amount of money you have spent on upgrading the machinery?
So far, around Rs 36 crore on upgrading police and intelligence infrastructure. Another tranche of financing of around Rs 102 crore is underway. The proceeds would be deployed within the next six months. Money would also be spent on creating a state-of-art police control room, upgrading the cyber crime cell, weapons and combat teams and welfare of over 75,000 police personnel.

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First Published: Nov 26 2009 | 1:21 AM IST

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