Mumbai Police Commissioner A.N. Roy

MUMBAI: Mumbai Police Commissioner A. N. Roy told The Hindu on Saturday that the police in the city are always alert around Independence Day.

Media reports about a specific warning from the American Government about possible terror attacks in Mumbai and Delhi around Independence Day did not alter the level of preparedness of the police around this time of the year, he said.

No official communication

"We heard about whatever has been said at the behest of the American Government on our television channels. As far as I know, the U.S. Government has not sent any official communication to our Government. They put out a warning to their citizens on their website," said Mr. Roy.

He felt it was irresponsible of some media organisations to play up such news as it created unnecessary anxiety and tension among the public.

Festivals

This week of the year, said the Police Commissioner, was always a difficult one because of Independence Day and religious festivals that follow.

Although the judgment in the 1993 bomb blast case — expected last week — has been postponed to September 12, the level of vigilance has been enhanced. This year the threat perception was higher because of the July 11 serial blasts in Mumbai and the terror plot busted in London, he said.

"Our professional job is to take care of all potential targets," said Mr. Roy. "These include places of worship in particular as an attack on them gives terrorists greater leverage as this can lead to communal tensions."

The police have told cinema and shopping mall owners to increase security as big crowds gather there. The city has 33 malls and in some of the bigger malls, there were as many as 70,000 footfalls a day. Ensuring security in these places was a challenge, he said. The police have been providing special training to security personnel at these malls.

The enhanced security was perceptible at railway stations, airports and around specific buildings or structures such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Reserve Bank of India and defence establishments considered potential targets for terrorists.

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