Mumbai, Maharashtra Absolutely Safe: R.R. Patil

"I want to take this opportunity to warn any such future perpetrators of terror targeting innocents… They will not be spared and will meet the same fate as Kasab and other terrorists. We are fully prepared to face and fight any threats," Patil said grimly.

Reluctant to reveal details as this concerns matters of security, Patil broadly said that the Mumbai and state police have been modernized, the force augmented, other additional specialized units like Force One created, better weapons, vehicles and communications facilities have been provided to them to protect the lives of the people.

Recently, Patil visited the elite Force Once headquarters on its 96-acres campus in Goregaon (East and reviewed its progress and preparedness to tackle any future threats.

He came away impressed – and satisfied – by the readiness of Force One to combat terror in Mumbai and its surroundings.

Set up in Nov. 2009, the first Special Inspector General of Police heading Force One was none other than senior police officer Sadanand Date – himself a scarred survivor of the Nov.26-28 Mumbai terror attacks.

Raised on the lines of the National Security Guard (NSG) which had also joined other forces during the 26/11 strike, the Force One is intended to reach any terror spot within 15 minutes to combat terrorists and prevent further damage.

In the past five years, besides augmenting the various forces safeguarding the city, the state government had taken up programs to install CCTVs at various public places, traffic junctions, railway stations, major government and private offices, vital installations, sensitive locations and other important venues in Mumbai, Pune and later in other major cities in the state.