Roy asked to submit report on security arrangements at MLA hostels

Mumbai, May 22 (UNI) Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar and Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh today asked Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy to submit a report, within a week, on security arrangements at all the four MLA hostels here.

This assumes significance in the wake of reports that the four alleged terrorists arrested from Aurangabad recently had stayed at an MLA hostel near the State Secretariat early this month.

PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, legislature secretary Vilas Patil and senior police officials were also present on the occasion.

Talking to UNI, Mr Kupekar said security arrangement is a complex issue. ''we are a democracy and MLA hostels are meant for elected representatives. A legislator cannot ascertain the background of every party worker from his constituency who comes to meet him.'' The need of the hour is to take the elected representatives into confidence and also talk to leader of Opposition in both the Houses and group leaders on this issue, he added. Reports that the terrorists had allegedly stayed in the MLA hostel is a serious issue, he said.

Mr Kupekar said the police chief will review the present security arrangements at all the hostels -- MLA hostel near Mantralaya, Manora, old Council building and Majestic. ''The existing security arrangements are extremely inadequate and hence we asked Mr Roy that the police should take the lead and suggest measures within a week,'' he added.

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