Fear and panic grip Bandra as Saif Ali Khan’s attack exposes security lapses

The knife attack on actor Saif Ali Khan inside his Bandra home on January 16 has exposed cracks in Mumbairsquos law and order raising questions about the safety of residents particularly highprofile individuals Recent attacks on Bollywood celebrities especially in the western suburbs have highlighted vulnerabilities in security infrastructure Once seen as a city of glamour and safety Mumbai now appears unsafe even for its elite residentsSeveral actors have voiced concerns citing fears of stepping out and calling for stricter security measures This has intensified scrutiny of the Mumbai police with many questioning their preparedness patrolling frequency and preventive strategies The growing fear has forced authorities to reassess how to ensure public safety in one of Indiarsquos most prominent citiesRaveena Tandonrsquos outcryRaveena TandonActress Raveena Tandon who faced a mob attack outside her Bandra home in June last year expressed her concerns on social media following the assault on Saif Ali Khan Recalling her own experience of saving her driver from an unruly crowd Tandon tweeted ldquoTargeting celebrities and soft targets in what used to be safe residential areas has become rampant Bandra is losing its charm to unruly elements scams hawker mafias encroachers and criminal activity Stronger measures are neededrdquo She wished Khan a speedy recovery while emphasising the urgency for actionPooja Bhattrsquos takePooja BhattActress Pooja Bhatt also commented on the issue highlighting the critical role of the local police ldquoLocal police are our first preventers and grassroots defenders It is their duty to create an environment where criminals feel uncomfortable operating Beat officers must act as deterrents to prevent criminal activitiesrdquo she tweeted tagging the Mumbai police commissionerBuilderrsquos crime experienceBuilder and developer Imran Baba Qureshi a resident of Skyper Tower Pali Market Road Bandra West said ldquoOn January 5 two robbers entered my house around 830 pm My security guard caught them redhanded and we informed the police helpline 100 I also sent my guard to the police station but the cops released the robbers without filing an FIR or taking action Later that night around 1 am the same accused returned and threatened my guard On January 12 two unidentified men entered our society again damaged the CCTV cameras and escapedrdquoAdvocate speaksThe law and order situation in Bandra and Khar has noticeably deteriorated due to several factors Lack of latenight patrolling Regular police patrolling after 1 am has stopped Instead officers now visit VIP residences scan barcodes or fill registers which is discriminatory and ineffectiveUnderstaffed crime detection units Police stations lack adequate personnel to handle the increasing number of criminal cases especially with the rise in cybercrime requiring officers to travel frequently to other states VIP protocols over public safety Bandra and Khar home to many VIPs and politicians see police resources focused on catering to these individuals instead of crime preventionPopulation and nightlife strain The influx of residents and establishments like bars restaurants and clubs diverts police attention leading to a decline in crime detection and prevention efforts Insufficient manpower Police stations in these areas require more staff to meet the demands of the growing population VIP protocols and busy nightlifeLack of action against criminals Policemen have often failed to act against theft trespass and housebreaking offenders boosting criminalsrsquo confidence and encouraging more serious crimes ldquoThese issues have left the oncesafe neighbourhoods of Bandra and Khar increasingly unsafe to live inrdquo said Advocate Trivankumar Karnani a criminal litigation lawyer at the Bombay High Court