NEWSFLASH - Mumbai, Nov. 26, 2009

Mumbai police bulk up, make contacts in seaside slum, terrorist landing point

By: Aaron Hochman-Zimmerman

Mumbai, Nov. 25 - One year ago 10 foreign terrorists guided their small craft to a Mumbai waterfront slum called the Fishermen's Colony; they spread across the city and killed over 170 people.

Life is about the same in the slum since the attacks of 26/11.

Shacks and residents are still huddled together in the Cuffe Parade section of Mumbai near the polluted Back Bay. Residents cook kettles of prawns and other small fish. Laundry hangs over the sandy Earth. The bathroom for some is little more than the far end of the shore near the waterline.

Nearby are wealthy neighborhoods, tourist attractions and the heart of the city's financial center.

A few police officers chatted near the entranceway of the ghetto, but shortly moved on.

Some at the colony noticed the strangers come ashore the day of the attacks, but communication with police is what was lacking, said Police Commissioner D. Shivanandhan.

What has changed in the colony, according to Shivanandhan, is the degree of the contact between the residents and the police.

Without divulging details, he said that the situation has been rectified.

There is little in the way of noticeably electronic security or even mobile phones, but "poverty does not affect the security situation," he said. "We can protect all those landing points."

Earlier, on the other side of the bay, the Mumbai Police Department rehearsed for a parade scheduled for the morning of the one-year anniversary of the attacks. Similar parades are likely to become an annual event in Mumbai and will act as a yearly demonstration of the city's law enforcement capabilities.

During the drill, the police department's traditional parade units were followed by the debut of new armored all-terrain vehicles and armored personnel carriers fitted with machine gun turrets as well as an outfit of specialized security commandos.

"I'm in charge of the security for the city ... one is duty-bound," said Shivanandhan, who replaced former-Commissioner Hasan Gafoor.

Gafoor is currently involved in a scandal stemming from allegations that he accused other senior policemen of shirking their duty during the attacks.

Despite the circumstances of his predecessor, "I have no mandate," Shivanandhan said, other than what the law requires. "My job is to give confidence to the people."

To that end, the department has held 30 to 40 training exercises simulating different attack scenarios within recent months, Shivanandhan said.

Still, from the point of view of the people, much work needs to be done.

"No change," said Mumbai resident Amal Thakue who came out to watch parade practice. Mumbai [is] not safe, very dangerous," he said.

"The morale of the people may be a little different, but the morale of the policemen is very high," Shivanandhan said.

At the top level, Shivanandhan and his officers have studied the lessons from the attacks dated 9/11, 7/7 and others, and are committed to the safety of the city.

"I, as a leader, pledge myself to give complete security to the Mumbai people," Shivanandhan said.

Also, from the beyond the edge of the city, the Indian Coast Guard has increased patrols, said spokesman Commandant Kulpreet Yadov.

"Good steady progress is being made," he said.