Unidentified assailants opened fire at the office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) municipal election candidate Pawan Walekar in Ambernath, Thane district, late Tuesday night, just days ahead of the local civic polls scheduled for December 20. The incident occurred around midnight in the Navin Bhendi Pada area of Ambernath West, where two men on a motorcycle allegedly fired four to five rounds at Walekar’s public relations office, police said on Wednesday. CCTV footage of incident on Tuesday. PIC/XSCREENGRAB@atuljmd123 The firing was captured on CCTV cameras, which are currently being used as a crucial element in the investigation to determine who the gunmen were, police said. Hearing the shots, security personnel rushed out, and one security guard was hit and injured, sustaining a bullet wound to his finger. “He was taken to the hospital immediately. He is currently in a stable condition,” a police officer said. Walekar and his party workers present at the office were unharmed, said the officer. Police said they have registered a case, and special teams have been formed from the Ambernath and Badlapur police stations, along with the Crime Branch, to investigate the matter. “We are examining the footage and technical evidence to identify and apprehend the suspects. Security in the area has been heightened,” a Crime Branch official added.
18 December,2025 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerMotormen operating local trains on the Western Railway network have expressed resentment over new duty hours that reportedly make many of them work in double shifts. The Mumbai Division of Western Railway has reported significant vacancies, leading to a high workload for the remaining motormen. To address this issue and decide on the future course of action, a meeting was held inside the motormen’s lobby at Churchgate on Wednesday. According to the sources, the problems have been simmering for a long time, and if not addressed timely, this could lead to disruption of suburban services. Motormen say they have been working without adequate rest due to the new rule, which affects the quality of driving and leads to safety issues. At Byculla station, commuters approach a motorman about the closed doors. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “There has been a shortage of motormen, leading to these issues. We only get four hours of rest after completing the duty and then again do one more shift. New motormen are joining, but the pace is slow and the problem is increasing,” a motorman said. “In the four-hour rest period, we cannot even go home and come back. We have been asked to get tiffins from home. All such things are adding to stress and compromising safety,” another motorman said. Officials speak WR officials said they were working on resolving the issue at the earliest. “There is a vacancy of about 54, with an average of 20 motormen forced to do double duty. To address this situation, recruitment of [Assistant Loco Pilots] ALPs from Railway Recruitment Boards [RRB] is being done. Also, promotion in the higher cadre of motormen will be done. Thus, once the cadre is filled, there will be no double duty. To provide facilities, air-conditioned running rooms are being provided with proper beds at multiple locations," an official said. AC local doors remain shut at Dadar halt Commuters of the 10.42 am AC fast local on Central Railway created a ruckus at Byculla station after the doors of their morning rush hour local did not open at Dadar station. “The Badlapur-CSMT train arrived at Dadar, and the train halted as usual, but the doors did not open, and the train departed. The next station was Byculla, and people missed their schedules,” said Mukesh Makhija, a commuter. “We then approached the motorman. There were seven people in his cabin. We questioned him, and he said that the guard is in charge of the train and that he does not have the mechanism to open doors,” said another commuter.
18 December,2025 08:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarMaharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Wednesday directed district administrations and police authorities to take strict preventive measures to ensure peaceful polling and counting during the upcoming municipal council and nagar panchayat elections in the state, reported news agency PTI. Polling to elect presidents and members in 24 municipal councils and nagar panchayats and 154 seats in 76 local bodies will be held on December 20. The first phase of elections to 264 municipal council and nagar panchayat polls in the state were held on December 2. The counting of votes for all 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats will take place on December 21. Waghmare issued the directions while reviewing preparedness through video conferences with district collectors, police commissioners, superintendents of police and election officers over the last two days. State Election Commission Secretary Suresh Kakani, Inspector General of Police Manojkumar Sharma and other senior officials were present, reported PTI. The SEC said polling and counting must be conducted smoothly and peacefully, and any untoward incident should invite immediate and strict action. Authorities were also asked to promptly inform the media, voters, candidates and political parties about the action taken to avoid any misinformation or wrong public perception. Kakani said that while polling will take place at limited locations on December 20, counting across all municipal councils and nagar panchayats will be held on December 21, requiring close coordination among police and other agencies, particularly after the declaration of results, reported PTI. He also reminded officials that election campaigning through electronic or print media will not be permitted after 10 pm on December 19, the day prior to polling. IG Manojkumar Sharma said adequate security arrangements must be in place to maintain law and order on polling and counting days, and stressed the need for timely communication of police action to the public, reported PTI. Mahayuti, Oppn MVA to face-off on Jan 15 in 'Maha' battle for Mumbai, 28 other civic bodies High-stakes polls to 29 municipal corporations, including the cash-rich Mumbai, on January 15 will see the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) battling it out for electoral supremacy in Maharashtra's major urban centres. The poll schedule announcement was made by Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday in compliance of an order from the Supreme Court fixing January 31 next year as the deadline for holding the long-pending local body elections in the state. The court in September this year had also censured the SEC for its "failure to take prompt action" and adhere to earlier timelines. The January 15 elections, involving 2,869 seats and over 3.48 crore voters, set the stage for a crucial political showdown between the Mahayuti comprising BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the MVA coalition of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP). These are first municipal corporations post-splits in the Shiv Sena (2022) and the Nationalist Congress Party (2023), developments which reshaped Maharashtra's politics. Votes will be counted on January 16. While one corporator will be elected from each seat in Mumbai (227 wards), three to five corporators will get chosen by voters per ward in 28 other civic bodies. After the assembly polls, old alliances too are taking new shape, suiting local politics. The phase one of local body polls saw an intense contest among Mahayuti partners with the Shiv Sena and the BJP slugging it out in several municipal council polls earlier this month. (With inputs from PTI)
18 December,2025 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn Andheri-based fashion stylist has registered an FIR at Amboli police station after an unknown person created a fake profile in her name on a dating app, and sent multiple messages to people for a meet. The stylist, 43, has since been receiving calls and messages from potential matches. The complainant has been living in Andheri with her husband for the past three years. She has a public Instagram account and has shared her mobile number for professional purposes. According to the police, she has been receiving suspicious messages on her mobile phone from various unknown numbers since June. Messages such as “You had called me to meet” were received. Initially, she ignored them, but as the frequency of such messages increased, she started blocking the numbers. “On August 6, an unknown man called her husband on his mobile phone and asked, ‘Are you her manager?’ This raised suspicion. Further inquiry revealed that a fake profile had been created in the woman’s name on a dating app called ‘Pure’.The accused had mentioned the stylist’s and her husband’s phone numbers on the app, claiming that he is her manager. Eventually, she began receiving messages and calls, asking for obscene chats and video calls,” said an officer. Another officer said, “We have registered an FIR against the unknown person and are receiving help from the Cyber Cell team. We also approached the ‘Pure’ dating app to identify the accused.” JuneMonth the woman began receiving texts from unknown numbers
18 December,2025 08:23 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaAkhtar Qutubuddin Husaini Ahmed, also known as Alexander Palmer, arrested in Versova for impersonating a BARC nuclear scientist, allegedly spent over two decades living as a behrupiya, posing under multiple identities across three major criminal cases. First case Ahmed’s criminal trail first emerged in 2003 in Meerut, where he was among 11 accused in a case registered at Kanker Kheda police station. During the investigation, he claimed involvement in exercises at three to four sensitive sites, including the Akshardham temple, though authorities are still verifying these claims. A Look Out Circular was later issued, and in 2011, he was intercepted at an airport — his alleged involvement coming to light for the first time. Second case The second case involved the Mumbai Crime Branch in 2004, when Ahmed was deported from Dubai. UAE authorities suspected him of attempting to sell classified nuclear information after he claimed to be a captain and said his brother was a BARC scientist. He was monitored for nearly two years before deportation. Accused, Akhtar Qutubuddin Husaini Ahmed, alias Alexander Palmer. Pic/By Special Arrangement The most recent case in 2025 saw Ahmed’s arrest in Mumbai. Police recovered forged passports, fake BARC IDs, maps, and educational certificates ranging from SSC to BE (Mechanical) and MEBSH Safety. Investigators noted he used advanced VPNs to hide his location and online activity while creating and transmitting forged documents. Foreign funding Investigators also uncovered USD 25,000 in foreign funding received in 1995, raising questions about its source. Ahmed reportedly travelled extensively using forged passports, making nearly 20 trips to Iran, about 15 visits to Saudi Arabia, and several trips to Russia and Thailand, frequently changing identities with fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and educational certificates. Charge sheet filed The Mumbai Crime Branch filed a 700-page charge sheet against Ahmed and co-accused Munazzil Khan. The document, submitted in Esplanade court, includes statements from around 60 witnesses and detailed evidence of forged passports, identity papers, and educational certificates. Another accused, Iliyaz Khan, is wanted for allegedly helping create fake documents. Ahmed, originally from Jamshedpur, had sold his ancestral home after his father died in 1996, but continued visiting the area, police said.
18 December,2025 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish PatilMaharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday said the State Transport Authority will take a decision about the bike taxi aggregators found violating rules, and said his department has so far filed 36 complaints against the erring operators, reported news agency PTI. In a video shared by the Transport Minister's office after a review meeting held at the Mantralaya in the wake of the alleged molestation of a female passenger by a bike taxi rider in Kalyan town of Thane district, Sarnaik said the aggregators had failed to follow the rules even after obtaining permission. After the cabinet's approval, the transport department had issued temporary licences to bike taxi aggregators, namely Ola, Uber, and Rapido. The companies had also showcased their bike taxis to the department. The State Transport Authority, chaired by the transport secretary, will take a decision about it within two days, he said, reported PTI. "If the rules made by the state government about bike taxis are not followed, then it will have to take an appropriate decision about them, and I have given the directives regarding it," Sarnaik said, reported PTI. The transport minister said the companies have been using petrol-powered bikes on roads, despite e-bikes being made mandatory under the Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, reported PTI. He further said that recently, a passenger died in an accident involving a bike taxi of one aggregator, while a rider associated with another aggregator molested a woman passenger in Kalyan. Sarnaik said that so far, the transport department has filed 36 police complaints against bike taxi aggregators, reported PTI. Maharashtra Transport Minister orders crackdown on illegal app-based bike taxis Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaikk on December 3 stated that strict action will be taken against app-based bike taxis operating illegally in the state. He has directed the Motor Transport Department to file criminal cases against companies that run bike taxi services without following government rules, an official statement said. It said that Sarnaik said that although the government recently announced its new e-bike policy, many app-based bike taxi companies have started operating without giving proper training to their riders. According to the official statement, the drivers are using ordinary private bikes to carry passengers, which is unsafe and against the law. Recently, a passenger died while travelling on one such illegal bike taxi. Despite this, several companies continue to ignore government rules. Taking note of repeated complaints, Sarnaik stated that only the companies -- not the individual riders -- will face criminal cases. "What happens in other states will not be allowed in Maharashtra. The safety of passengers is our top priority. Companies that follow safety rules and do not exploit riders will get government support. But those who operate illegally and put passengers at risk will face strong action," he said. Following his orders, on December 2, the Motor Transport Department filed a case at Ghatkopar Police Station against Rapido (Ropn Transport Private Limited). The case was registered under Sections 66(1) and 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, for operating bike taxis illegally. (With inputs from PTI)
18 December,2025 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDespite the ongoing debate over dust pollution caused by red soil at Shivaji Park in Dadar, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to surface two more playgrounds in South Mumbai with red soil — one near the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo in Byculla and another close to Dockyard Road railway station, both located in high-footfall areas. The decision was taken earlier this week by the civic body’s gardens department. Earlier, mid-day had reported that the BMC planned to lay red soil at four playgrounds in Matunga, Wadala and Sion under the F North ward. The move was aimed at softening hardened grounds following the withdrawal of the monsoon, making the spaces safer and more usable for children and local residents. Red soil spread across sections of Shivaji Park in Dadar as part of the BMC’s ground-surfacing work. File pic/Ashish Raje According to civic officials, red soil has better water-retention properties, which help keep playground surfaces softer. With the addition of two playgrounds in E ward, the number of playgrounds in Mumbai surfaced with red soil will rise to seven, including Shivaji Park. Pollution concerns A senior civic official told mid-day that although approvals have been granted for the two new playgrounds, work will not proceed without careful evaluation of its environmental impact. “Red soil is softer in nature and can be beneficial for playgrounds. However, it should be used judiciously — either in small quantities or limited to specific areas such as jogging tracks,” the official said. In the case of the Byculla and Dockyard Road playgrounds, the civic body will seek detailed inputs from ward-level and zonal officials before finalising the work. Measures will be examined to ensure that dust pollution is avoided, the official added. Shivaji Park experience Residents of Shivaji Park have strongly opposed the large-scale dumping of red soil on the historic ground after the pandemic and have demanded its removal. Civic officials say that Shivaji Park is unique due to its vast area. “In Shivaji Park’s case, it was observed that the red soil did not retain water as expected and may not have served its intended purpose of improving safety for athletes. This resulted in complaints about dust clouds during windy conditions,” the official said.
18 December,2025 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSTLC for the Terminus Workers set up bamboo scaffolding for maintenance of a section of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Fort Thumri in Goa Vidhya Gopal (right) and Alok Ranjan Srivastava during the performance. Pic courtesy/IPRS It was an evening when the thumri met spoken poetry in Goa. The session at the Serendipity Arts Festival by the Andheri-based Indian Performing Right Society Ltd (IPRS) witnessed performers such as Vidhya Gopal and Alok Ranjan Srivastava take on Gulabi Vinyl, a set that unified thumri, ghazal, and spoken poetry. Describing the act, Gopal shared, “It began as a conversation with songs that we grew up listening to. Moving between music and poetry, we allowed these lyrics to breathe again.” Today, screenwriter-lyricist Mayur Puri and his band will take over with his performance titled, Beintehaan: A Musical Harvest with Mayur Puri. Known for Bollywood hits including Teri Ore and Chunar, the one-hour act merges Sufi kalaams and qawwalis, among other genres, with indie-folk fusion, among his own compositions. Farewell, Meher Castelino The late Meher Castelino at the Inside Fashion Magazine launch in 2000. File Pic The passing of India’s first Femina Miss India-winner, a longtime friend and contributor to this newspaper, Meher Castelino, at the age of 81 came as a blow. For a decade, Castelino’s name was a familiar sight for mid-day readers as her columns kept us onside of the fashion world. Meher Castelino (left) with Sathya Saran. Pic courtesy/Sathya Saran Former Femina editor and author, Sathya Saran shared, “She would diligently attend every show, after which she would rush back to her computer to file stories.” But for Saran, it was the grace and elegance of Castelino that stood out. “She was always put together. Never sloppy. A classy figure throughout her life,” Saran told this diarist. Fabulous new beginnings Shalini Passi. File pic There is one more feather to add to the already vibrant life of Delhi-based designer and art curator Shalini Passi. After her eye-catching presence on the 2024 Netflix series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, the curator will turn author in 2026 with her first book, The Art of Being Fabulous (Penguin Random House India). Scheduled to release in early 2026, the book will be a part-memoir, part-manifesto about Passi’s own journey, and her secrets of the self. Talk about going from strength to strength. Learning to live on the spectrum A previous adaptive sports session. Pic courtesy/Don Bosco Academy, Nerul Santa might have to do a longer stopover in Navi Mumbai this Christmas. On December 21, the Don Bosco school ground in Seawoods, Navi Mumbai, will host specially-abled children on the autistic spectrum for the Funtoosh Mega Mela. The fair, hosted by Don Bosco Prafulta Centre for Psychological Wellness Nerul in association with Wading Through Life-Funtoosh and The Rotary Club of Smart City Navi Mumbai is an effort to help families learn about living with individuals on the spectrum. Wenonah Castellino, founder, Wading Through Life-Funtoosh Holistic Wellness revealed, “It’s a networking awareness mela, to help families access resources like therapy and other interventions. There will be a carnival with games, and adaptive sports sessions. The Don Bosco Youth Services Matunga team will also perform Christmas carols.” Alibaug, ahoy! A view of dishes offered by the outlet. Pic courtesy/Mag St City-based cafe Mag St. seems to be following the holiday crowd to Alibaug this festive season. They will host the latest edition of their annual pop-up, Mag St. in the ‘Baug, from December 20 to January 4 at Alibaug-Revas Road. Aside from culinary treats from Mag St. Bread Co, and sister brand Iktara, patrons can order via online platforms. Gauri Devidayal, co-founder, Food Matters Group, said, “Our goal is to bring the soul of Mag St. to Alibaug.” Guests might want to reserve tables by calling 9136569692 ahead of time.
18 December,2025 07:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayIn a setback to the Congress in Maharashtra, party MLC Pradnya Satav is likely to join the ruling BJP on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. Satav, the wife of Congress leader late Rajiv Satav, who was a close aide of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, is a two-time MLC. Her term ends in 2030. Rajiv Satav was an MP from Hingoli and earlier represented the Kalamnuri assembly segment in the district. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said Pradnya Satav has been incommunicado since Wednesday morning after media reports about her switching sides surfaced, reported PTI. Congress leader in the legislative council Satej Patil said the party made her a legislator and he personally feels she will not take any drastic step, reported PTI. BJP media coordinator Navnath Ban said some fresh inductions will take place into the party on Thursday, reported PTI. Ex-Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joins BJP Meanwhile, former Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator Tejasvee Ghosalkar joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Mumbai on Monday, ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Tejasvee Ghosalkar, who had served as the Sena (UBT) women's wing head in the Dahisar assembly constituency in north Mumbai, is the daughter-in-law of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar. Her husband, Abhishek Ghosalkar, was shot dead in early 2024 during a Facebook Live, allegedly by local resident Morris Noronha. Abhishek was also a former corporator of the BMC. She joined the BJP on Monday in the presence of its Mumbai chief Ameet Satam and party MLC Pravin Darekar. Later, speaking to reporters, Tejasvee Ghosalkar said she had worked diligently in the Shiv Sena (UBT) and would now work harder in her new party. "I will accept any responsibility given to me by the party. There are many things I wish to say, but I cannot do so at the moment," she said. She also expressed disappointment over the slow pace of the investigation into the murder of her husband. "The CBI probe into my husband's murder is moving at a slow pace. I hope it will be completed at the earliest," she said. In September last year, the Bombay High Court handed over the probe into the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), underlining certain lapses and loose ends in the police probe. Tejasvee Ghosalkar was corporator of the (then undivided) Shiv Sena from 2017 to 2022. She had quit from her posts in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT), citing personal reasons. Differences surfaced between her and her father-in-law during the state assembly elections last year, as both wanted to contest from Dahisar. Vinod Ghosalkar eventually contested the seat on the Sena(UBT) ticket but lost to BJP's Manisha Chaudhary. The schedule for polls to various civic bodies, including the cash-rich BMC, has not yet been announced. Elections to the local bodies in Maharashtra are to be completed by January 31, 2026, as per the Supreme Court's order. (With inputs from PTI)
18 December,2025 07:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMore than two months after it was declared dangerous and closed for public use, the foot overbridge (FOB) connecting Tagore Nagar and Kannamwar Nagar in Vikhroli continues to pose a serious risk to pedestrians. Located across the busy Eastern Express Highway (EEH), the defunct FOB has neither been repaired nor dismantled, leaving residents with little choice but to risk their lives daily. Lives at risk “The FOB served as a crucial pedestrian link between Tagore Nagar and Kannamwar Nagar. Since its closure, the absence of any alternative bridge nearby has forced people to either illegally use the unsafe structure or attempt to cross the high-speed highway on foot,” said Sanjay Jaiswal, a resident of Kannamwar Nagar. Residents allege this neglect has already resulted in at least two accidents in recent weeks, involving pedestrians trying to cross the EEH amid fast-moving traffic. “Every morning and evening, we see school children and commuters risking their lives. It is only a matter of time before a major tragedy occurs. Three days ago, two boys crossing the EEH in the evening were hit by a motorist who failed to spot them in the dark. Fortunately, the biker applied the brakes and so a major accident was averted. However, all three were quite bruised,” said Manish Dholam, who runs a garage near the bridge. College students forced to run across the Eastern Express Highway There are educational institutions of either side of the bridge, thus making it crucial for the students as well. “Students from schools and colleges would use this bridge daily to cross over. Now we have to risk our lives while travelling, no matter what — whether we try to climb the closed bridge from its edges or decide to cross the busy EEH,” said Mayur Gavan, a college student who would use the bridge daily for the commute between his home and college. Wastage of time, money “The two FOBs — one towards Thane and the other towards Kurla — are almost 500-700 metres away. We have to pay almost Rs 50 for a one-way autorickshaw ride to reach home from college. It’s been many months now that the bridge has been shut. Saving money and time means risking our lives, and keeping safe means wasting Rs 100 and an hour daily, despite it being a short commute. If we take the bridge, I reach my college within 10 minutes on foot. But now, if I take an autorickshaw, considering the traffic, it takes at least 20-25 minutes each way,” said Parth Dhanavde, another college student. Motorists at risk too Adding to concerns is the fact that the damaged FOB structure still stands over one of Mumbai’s busiest highways. Citizens fear that if not urgently dismantled or repaired, parts of the bridge could collapse onto the road below, endangering motorists as well. “If the bridge is dangerous and the BMC has clearly mentioned that it cannot be used, then why is it taking so long to either repair or dismantle it? Lakhs of commuters pass by daily. What if the bridge collapses? Is the BMC waiting for someone to die before taking necessary actions?” Vikram Sonawane, who uses the EEH daily, questioned. Official Speak Alankar Veer, assistant engineer, S ward, told mid-day, “We have done our part by closing the bridge. We had received multiple complaints about the bridge being dangerous, after which our team inspected the spot some six months ago. We had noticed that the flooring was damaged severely, making it difficult for people to walk. Structurally, the bridge is strong and won't fall as such. However, a few months back, when the bridges department said it would take up the repair works, we closed the bridge. This is all that we can do at the ward level.” According to Veer, S ward officials also recently wrote to the bridges department to start repair work at the earliest. “They responded saying that the tenders have been floated. We realise the importance of the bridge and are trying to fast-track the work as much as we can.” ‘Crucial link’ Sanjay Jaiswal, Kannamwar Nagar resident‘The FOB served as a crucial pedestrian link. Now, people are forced to either illegally use the unsafe structure or attempt to cross the high-speed highway on foot’ Mayur Gavan, college student‘Now we have to risk our lives while travelling, no matter what — whether we try to climb the closed bridge from its edges or decide to cross the busy EEH’ Parth Dhanavde, college student‘It’s been many months now that the bridge has been shut. Saving money and time means risking our lives, and keeping safe means wasting R100 and an hour daily’ Vikram Sonawane, commuter‘If the bridge is dangerous and the BMC has clearly mentioned that it cannot be used, then why is it taking so long to either repair or dismantle it? Lakhs of commuters pass by daily. What if the bridge collapses?’ Length of bridge100-120 feet (approx) Daily footfall before closure500-600 people (approx)
18 December,2025 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarAs thousands of students throng the IIT Bombay campus this week for ‘Mood Indigo’, the institute’s annual three-day cultural festival, many are unaware that a quiet security operation is unfolding around them. Blending into the festive crowds are eight women police officers from Powai police station, dressed in civilian clothes and carrying only their Mumbai Police identity cards. The team includes two police sub-inspectors and six constables, all in their late 20s, deployed to keep a discreet watch on the campus while remaining approachable to students, especially women visiting Mumbai for the first time. The three-day festival is held on December 16, 17 and 18 at IIT-Bombay’s campus. The officers move among the crowds, striking up casual conversations with students from states such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as from other parts of Maharashtra. The idea, police say, is to make young visitors feel safe without the intimidation that often comes with visible policing. Students throng IIT Bombay campus during the three-day Mood Indigo festival. Pics/By Special Arrangement “Students smile at us when we are out of our vardi,” said PSI Swati Mayachari. “Once we introduce ourselves, they open up easily. Out of uniform, they speak more freely about their experiences and concerns in the city.” During these interactions, the officers share information about police helplines, nearby medical facilities, public transport routes and local train stations. In some cases, they also give out their personal contact numbers so students can reach them directly if they need help. While no incidents have been reported so far, officers said many students expressed anxiety about navigating Mumbai’s crowds. “Several youngsters told us they find the sheer scale of the city overwhelming. They are not used to such crowds. We reassure them and guide them to nearby support systems,” Mayachari said. Plainclothes women police officers (wearing blue ID cards) keep a discreet watch on long queues of students during Mood Indigo Even as students dance, dine and perform across the campus, the policewomen remain alert for any suspicious behaviour. According to officers, policing in plain clothes allows them to observe situations more realistically, as people tend to behave differently when they see uniformed personnel. “This initiative was planned with our DCP to understand the ground reality during large student gatherings,” said Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Sonawane. “Our officers also help students with basic information about commuting and daily life in Mumbai.” The women officers remain on campus from 9 am to 10 pm. In addition, the Mumbai Police has deployed ‘Nirbhaya Pathak’ patrol vans, each staffed with four personnel, to strengthen overall security during the festival. Dec 16, 17, & 18Days the event is held
18 December,2025 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarADVERTISEMENT
