Pune:
Bunkers were put up close to the German Bakery and the nearby Chabad House to aid the police in remaining ever-vigilant in sensitive Koregaon Park. But at a time when the German Bakery blast anniversary is 10 days away, the reality is that the police are often missing from the bunkers even as illegal chappal stalls leaning on to these sandbag structures do roaring business.
Commissioner of Police Meeran Borwankar had said on Wednesday that with the first anniversary of the terror attack on German Bakery on February 13 approaching, the police had become more vigilant. The situation on the ground contradicts her claim.
A recce of the Chabad House, a Jewish socio-religious centre, and the Osho International Meditation Resort was done by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Coleman Headley in March 2009 and July 2008. The German Bakery also stands close to these two centres.
A visit to these places revealed several lapses in security arrangements made by the police.
The bunkers at the corners of several lanes in Koregaon Park were vacant as people bought fancy footwear from the stalls next to these. Despite the area being a sensitive zone, the police were not bothered about keeping a tab on the activities of people standing within kissing distance of the bunkers.
Vijay Jagtap, president of the Popular Heights Society near German Bakery, voiced his concern about the increasing encroachments all over the area.
"Just a month ago we had informed the police and the PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) authorities about the encroachments and requested them to take action against them. But the authorities have repeatedly ignored our complaints," he said.
Repeated attempts to contact local corporator Rajendra alias Babu Wagaskar were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls.
Police Inspector Suhas Nadgouda of the Bund Garden police station, under the jurisdiction of which the area falls, said, "We have informed the PMC authorities through a letter about the illegal stalls that have come up in the sensitive area. Removing these encroachments is not the responsibility of police, but if the PMC authorities demand protection while removing the encroachments, we will provide it to them."
Nadgouda did not agree that the police presence was low in the area. "We have increased visible policing in the Koregaon Park area and nakabandi is being carried out twice a week," the officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Rajeshkumar Mor stated that security in Koregaon Park had not been compromised in any way.
"In fact, we have increased the frequency of nakabandis even during the day time to curb the menace of chain-snatchers," he said. "It's proving to be very useful."
Ramesh Shelar, head of the Anti-Encroachment Squad of the PMC, said "The Bund Garden police may have sent the letter to the ward office but I have not received it yet. However, if required, we will take action against the encroachments soon."