Post-26/11 security measures take their toll on bylanes

In fact,the residents’ association brought this up at a meeting with senior inspector of Colaba police Deepak P Vishwasrao on April 9. The association has requested that the policemen should be posted again in its chowky besides offering to help the police in their patrols.

“Ever since the attacks,the police have been busy patrolling the main roads,major hotels and cafés. Drug peddlers and petty criminals are taking advantage of this and they have increased their activities in the bylanes,” Naresh Sadhwani of the association said.

“We are aware that the police do have a manpower problem and that security is really a big issue. Far from making any complaints about the police,we want to actually help them out. The police have agreed to man the Strand Marg Chowky again and we have offered to give local volunteers to help with the patrolling. The police have decided to work out a plan where they can use these volunteers,” he said.

However,the Colaba police denied any increase in crime. “All that the residents want is for us to man the chowky again,which we shall do,” said Vishwasrao. When asked about local volunteers,he said,“it is true that local youths have volunteered to help us,but the plans for this are in the preliminary stages and nothing has been finalised yet.”