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Mumbai gears up for March 15

With the aim of maintaining peace in Mumbai, Mumbai Police Commissioner M N Singh on Thursday held a meeting with prominent persons and community leaders and sought their help to prevent any untoward incident in the metropolis on March 15.

The latter, in turn, assured him of their full cooperation.

On Thursday, the VHP asked its supporters to conduct puja (prayers) in every part of the country in support of the Ayodhya Ram temple movement.

The Shiv Sena, which has a significant following in the metropolis, has expressed support to the VHP's shila pujan programme.

However, senior party leader Uddhav Thackeray, who attended the meeting called by Singh, assured that 'there will be total peace (in Mumbai) on Friday'.

The Sena is a constituent of the ruling NDA at the Centre and a supporter of the Ayodhya Ram temple movement.

M N Singh announced that besides the 21 companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), four each of the Rapid Action Force (RPF) and the Riot Control Force (RCF) would be deployed in the city while two companies of police commandos and 11,000 home guards will be put on high alert.

Special patrols will be stationed at important railway stations while security at the airport has been put on high alert, he said.

The state government has banned all rallies and public meetings on Friday.

However, being Friday, maximum number of Muslims are expected to visit mosques to offer prayers.

As part of the efforts to maintain peaceful relations between various communities, the police organized a series of meetings of the mohalla (neighbourhood) committees.

These local area committees, formed all over the city, comprise religious leaders, prominent citizens and other residents. They are activated, especially during times of crisis, to reach out to citizens in every corner of the city.

"We have also sensitised the police on how to deal with communal tension. They have promised to defend every citizen in an unbiased manner," said former police commissioner Julio Ribeiro, an active member of the mohalla committee in his area.

He said that mohalla committees across the city had been told to work full time and ensure peace in their suburbs.

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