High alert sounded in Mumbai after IAF’s air strikes in Pakistan
As a corollary to the airstrike on terror camps in Pakistan, the city was placed on high alert on Tuesday.
As a corollary to the airstrike on terror camps in Pakistan, the city was placed on high alert on Tuesday. The state heightened vigil across vital installations and utilities, through air, sea and land, particularly public transportation.
It also sought the help of informal partners like fishermen and cyber security experts, who function as the eyes and ears of the security apparatus.
Mumbai Police sounded an alert, following standard operating procedure (SOP). “We have alerted all officers at our 94 police stations, including sea ports, to be vigilant. There will be routine nakabandis in some parts of Mumbai,” said an officer.
Police PRO Manjunath Singe said, “Quick response commandos, the special branch, and the police’s intelligence unit are collecting information. Most police manpower is on bandobast.”
Kneejerk reactions did unfold in the city by Tuesday evening. Commuters in Kandivli panicked on spotting an abandoned box on a BEST bus.
They prompted the driver to stop on SV Road and take the bus to the police station. “A large number of people gathered at the police station. On checking, the box was found to contain an AC compressor.
Someone forgot it on the bus,” an officer said. “Anyway, such caution is good and commuters need to be careful on all forms of public transport.”
BEST spokesperson Balasaheb Zodage said drivers will be equipped with walkie-talkie sets so that they can communicate with the control room in an emergency.
Railway security agencies conducted anti-sabotage checks at nodal stations on Western Railway and Central Railway. The Government Railway Police as well as the Railway Protection Force pressed personnel into action on trains and platforms.
Baggage was checked with handheld metal detectors at a few places. The canine squad too was pressed into action.
“Unauthorized hawkers were cleared. We appeal to commuters to report abandoned objects and to not panic,” said an officer.
Vigilance was increased at the airport and flyers were carefully frisked. State cyber head Brijesh Singh issued an advisory for those dealing with personal identification information such as passwords, email addresses, Aadhaar numbers and such like.
“They must conduct an audit to harden their systems and networks against intrusion and exfiltration of data,” he said.
