Security beefed up in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 14: Security arrangments have been beefed-up across the city here ahead of the Independence Day, following intelligence inputs that terrorist plans to disrupt the celebrations.

A senior police official said here today that security measures have been stepped up at places like the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), which is one of the target of terrorist groups, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the Bombay High Court and other Government buildings.

''Police is also taking the help of sniffer dog squads at airports, railway stations and highly populated places including shopping malls, markets, stock exchange and religious places for checking,'' he said adding parking of cars at the high alter zone has also been restricted.

The National Security Guards (NSG), the country's premier anti-subversive force, has been deployed at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), as a precautionary measure.

Mumbai police's Riot Control Police (RCP) and some extra companies of the paramilitary forces have also been deployed at sensitive points across the city.

The Police have also asked pub and discotheque owners in the city to keep a strict vigil on customers, he added.

Meanwhile, security at the Bombay High Court has been tightened and all people entering the heritage structure would have to pass through security checks. While the gates at the North end of the building have been closed for entry and exit, the security personnel along with bomb detection squads have been deployed at the South-East gate.

The second gate on the East side of the building, that connects it to the PWD building, will be used only for exit, that too after a thorough security check.

''With the I-Day threats increasing the fear among the public, as well as in the Government machinery, we can, at best, take precautions than cry later,'' a security official posted at the court said.

UNI