Fasting, feasting, this Ramzan in Mumbai under khaki cover,Cops in mufti, information from locals to help ensure safe Ramzan.

With the start of the holy month of Ramzan, the Mumbai police have geared up and tightened security and in and around Muslim-dominated areas.

In south Mumbai, which has a sizeable Muslim population, the police have taken several precautionary measures to ensure that no untoward incident affects the peace in the city.

Senior police officials said that many policemen would be deployed in plainclothes to monitor the activities in and around mosques. Along with this, many Muslims will be acting as the eyes and ears of the police department.
Several volunteers are also helping the police control the movement of traffic in areas with mosques nearby.

Also, in the evening, areas where mosques are located are barricaded, barring any vehicle movement. This precautionary step, which will continue through the month of Ramzan, has been taken with the intention of securing the area as several Muslims gather together to break the day’s fast.

Police said that their main concern is that of a terror strike in any part of the city as it would not only result in casualties but might also trigger communal riots, turning into a serious law and order situation.

Nisar Tamboli, deputy commissioner of police (zone-2) said, “Mumbai, being the financial capital of India, has always been on the hit list of terrorists and festivals are the most crucial times. Hence, all the necessary steps have been taken. We are fully prepared.”

Another police officer said that for terrorists, it is not important who dies. The only thing there are concerned about is how many are dead. “We concentrate on providing high security in all the areas where people are likely to gather as they terrorist organizations target crowded area to increase the number of casualties,” the officer added.

During Ramzan, the police are taking several precautionary measures in Muslim-dominated localities to ensure that peace is maintained. Many policemen in plain clothes will be deployed to monitor activity in and around mosques. In the evenings, areas around mosques are barricaded, barring any vehicular movement. This is done to secure places where Muslims come together to break the day’s fast. Police said that their main concern is that of a terror strike in any part of the city as it would not only result in casualties but might also trigger communal riots.