Mumbai, December 26
Exactly one month after the terrorist attack in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital is back on its feet, albeit a bit unsteadily. Repeated bomb blasts in public places over the past few years ahead of last month’s terrorist strike has dented the morale of the city.
Much of Mumbai has a thick security cordon enveloping it. Police presence across the city is clearly visible and more personnel on duty are seen carrying heavy weapons. Even street corner police chowkies have sandbag fortifications, a stark reminder of the agony Mumbai has been through.
“Mumbaikars are more cautious now and do not protest when we stop them for checking,” says constable Subash More at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station where the terrorists struck last month. Metal detectors have been installed at the main entrance of the railway station and police personnel examine virtually every passenger carrying heavy luggage. Passengers have learnt to leave home early due to the security checks, says More.
Commercial establishments like the Leopold Cafe, the Taj and Oberoi Hotels that were targetted by the terrorists are already back on their feet. Though the Taj and Oberoi Hotels are functioning partially, Leopold Cafe is back in business. “The crowds are back though the number of foreigners are much less,” says Farhad Irani whose family has owned the cafe for more than 75 years.
Shopkeepers across the Colaba Causeway say the number of foreigners on the streets are much less. Despite the year-end, hotels in the area say the annual rush of visitors from Europe and the Middle East are missing. However, the locals more than make up for the loss of international clientele. At the Leopold Cafe, it takes nearly half an hour to get a table in the evenings like it did in the old days.
The annual Kala Ghoda festival, organised at a stone’s throw away from the Taj, is being kicked off with a homage to the martyrs who lost their lives in the terror attacks. The mark of last month’s tragedy hangs over the do, which attracts scores of art and culture lovers. There will be plays, poetry recitations and mushairas that will have the terror attack as their main themes.
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies say they are beefing up security to ensure that last month’s terror strike does not repeat itself. The Mumbai police have set up its own commando unit to respond to a terrorist strike. Former Army personnel and chosen policemen are being trained by the National Security Guard and will report directly to the police commissioner.
According to police commissioner Hasan Gafoor, the commandos will be provided with automatic assault rifles and trained in martial arts. Units of the commandos will be stationed in different parts of the city so that they can respond to an emergency at the earliest. “Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has cleared all pending requests for setting up such a group,” says a Home Department official.
Equipment like sophisticated weapons including night-vision glasses and Kevlar bulletproof vests are in the process of being acquired say government officials. However skeptics say such promises have been made and broken after terror attacks in the past.
The first batch of such commandos is being deployed at the famed Siddhivinayak temple in Central Mumbai. According to state government officials, 30 commandos will be posted initially. However the trust, which manages the shrine, is demanding more commandos.
Police officials say they are now gearing up for an attack on aircraft or on the city airport. Slum dwellers living on the periphery of the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport are being questioned and asked to report suspicious movement of people. Newcomers coming to live in the slums are also being called in for questioning, police officials said.
