27 May,2011 07:31 AM IST | | J Dey
After the blast outside Delhi High Court, MiD DAY finds that several courts in Mumbai are ill-equipped to deal with terror attacks, for want of police personnel, security arrangements
The explosion outside the Delhi High Court on Wednesday poses grave questions about the security measures in and around the courtrooms in the city, which manifestly lack in manual or mechanic surveillance and protection.
A survey carried out by MiD DAY indicates that security arrangements are far from foolproof, making them vulnerable to terror attacks. The lower courts are particularly susceptible. In most, security provisions are so poor that policemen may find it difficult to protect themselves, leave alone bystanders.
All izz well? The footpath outside the Killa Court near CST, is used as
pay and park. The complex houses the Azad Maidan police station
Pics/Shadab Khan
For instance, the bloody shootout in the Sessions Court in Kala Ghoda on April 9, where three alleged aides of gangsters Santosh and Vijay Shetty, managed to enter the court premises to target a lawyer and rival gangster. The killer squad was reportedly conducting a recce of the court premises along with another man on the day members of rival Chhota Rajan gang were to be produced in the court. Cops recovered two revolvers from the arrested trio, as one managed to flee. The attempt was foiled only because Crime Branch sleuths were tipped off in advance and over a dozen men were deployed for the operation.
The lane leading to the High Court is heavily barracaded and vehicles
are not allowed to enter or park
But the courts may not be safe in the event of a sudden attack, say, if terrorists take people hostage or go on a killing spree. Heavily armed with sophisticated weaponry, as the 26/11 attacks illustrated, they could wreak havoc on the city's judicial establishments.
No personnel
There are no commando units deployed within three km of any court premises across the city. The High Court, Bandra and Bhoiwada are the only exceptions. A majority of the policemen seen in the court are deployed only to escort or keep an eye on undertrials appearing in the court and not to secure the premises. There are no blockades in place either, to distance people who have no business in the courts. Again, take the case of the Sessions Court. Vehicles are allowed to be parked as close as 10 metres of the court, without any checks.
Parking area: Cars are allowed to enter and park outside Bombay
City Civil and Sessions court
Another glaring case in point is the magistrate court abutting CST station. Hundreds of unauthorised persons
are seen in and around the building housing the court, which is less than five feet from the road, giving easy access to anyone wishing to enter. There is no cordon or blockade making it off-limits to unwanted persons.
In almost all the cases there are no policemen trained in anti-terror attacks measures. Lack of armed policemen with sophisticated weapons and explosive detection gadgets add to the threat.
killer junction: The Esplanade building where two witnesses were
shot dead by underworld gangs
No surveillance
A majority of the courts are also not equipped with security precautions like CCTV cameras, leave alone policemen manning the control room to foil any attack. What makes matters worse is that no one is frisked or patted down before they enter the premises. Nor are there any metal detectors at the entrance. Even outside courtrooms, there is no police personnel to check bags of those who enter.
Police spokesperson
DCP Vijaysinh Jadhav has refused to comment on the court security issue. He did not respond to a text message sent by MiD DAY.
Violence in courts
> Dawood Ibrahim managed to eliminate rival Amirzada through hireling David Pardesi inside the Sessions Court on September 6, 1983.
> Chandrashekar Safalika bumped off Chhota Rajan's mentor Rajan Nair outside Esplanade Court on November 11, 1983. The assassin was dressed as a naval rating.
> Kalia Anthony was killed in the Sessions Court compound in a police encounter in 1984.
> Gangster Amar Naik's younger brother Ashwin was shot inside the Sessions Court on April 18, 1994 by Arun Gawli's aide Ravindra Sawant, who was dressed in the garbs of an advocate.
