MUMBAI: Security has been beefed up to the maximum at the Mumbai seaport after the Mumbai terror attacks in November.
The security, which so far had been handled by the Bombay Port Trust (BPT) personnel and the Mumbai police, has now been handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Now 570 CISF personnel would look after the security aspects. This was disclosed by BPT Chairman Rahul Asthana. He said that the decision to hand over the security to the CISF was taken after receiving several danger warnings from the federal Intelligence Bureau.
Speaking to the media here yesterday, Asthana said that the IB has been issuing advisory and alert notes about the danger to the port even much before the Mumbai terror attacks.
The BPT chairman further said that as part of the security measures, one portion of the Ballard Pier and Green Gate has been closed for all purposes. Apart from that, some traffic routes inside the port areas have also been closed.
However, the IB has warned that danger to the port still exists due to the illegal encroachments by slum-dwellers near the port, as the terrorists can easily find shelter there, Asthana said and added that there were illegal encroachments at Haji Bunder, Powder Bunder, Reti Bunder, and some other port areas, where slums are mushrooming on a vast scale.
Meanwhile in another development, widening the scope of investigations following the arrest of an IPS officer in a narcotics racket, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) carried out a major seizure in Thane district and cops are also in touch with sleuths in other states as well for gathering information.
As much as 25 kg of heroin was seized from the residence of one Vicky Oberoi who was arrested for selling drugs in Mumbai on the instructions of the IPS officer Sajji Mohan. The ATS on Monday night raided the house of Oberoi at Naigaon at Vasai Taluka in Thane and seized heroin valued at Rs.25 crore in the international market.
