Days after Shiv Sena workers smeared black paint on On Sudheendra Kulkarni for organising the book launch of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Mumbai Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Javed said that security was provided to Kulkarni for the event.
"Our main focus was the function. This is what they (Sena) generally target. It was a challenging task. We took action and arrested the people by late night. We received the letter from Kulkarni and that was for the programme. They wanted security for the programme. And we catered to that. There is some learning from every law and order situation. The individual act on Kulkarni is something that we are still looking at," he said.
In his first interview after assuming charge as the Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Javed said that he got the post only on the basis of his merit. Javed's appointment was marred with controversies after the earlier CP Rakesh Maria, who was personally monitoring the mysterious and high profile Sheena Bora murder case, was in a sudden decision transferred from the post.
Ahmed is a DG-rank officer and the Commissioner's post has been upgraded. Ahmed is due to retire in the next 4 months. "It's a reality that I have less time. But remember I have worked here for a long time. One would like to reach the heights on the basis of merit and not because of any extraneous factor. A true professional would aspire to become the CP. I'm not going to talk about timing. I haven't gone to anybody for this post. Somebody has recognised my merits. I have been appointed purely because of my merit. It is completely legitimate," he said.
He also brushed aside any controversy in the matter as merely a speculation. "The controversies are bit of what the media has created. They have given it a spin. There is nothing more than that," he said.
Also speaking on the incident where two lady constables were found guilty of thrashing a girl in Lalbaugcha Ganesh Pandal, he said that sensitisation about dealing with a people is a big challenge.
"It is a pity that after such a satisfying bandobast that such a incident took place. Constables had no right to behave in this manner. They cannot behave in this manner. It is something we wish it didn't happen. Sensitisation about dealing with a people is a big challenge. We cannot tolerate such an act. Under the circumstances we work, it is a tough task. This incident has just highlighted how important sensitisation is. We will do everything to ensure that such things do not occur," he asserted.
He claimed that maintaining security is the biggest and foremost challenge. "We have had blasts in the past. So security is the first big challenge. Secondly it is security for women," he added.
Javed also said that radicalisation is a big threat that should have been realised a little earlier. "It is operating at a bigger level. Major threat involving youngsters. We have already seen the consequence of youngsters from our neighbourhood going to Middle East. Luckily the government has also stepped in. There is multi dimensional approach. Other departments have also stepped in. Deradicalisation is now going to be part of multiple departments not just home," he asserted though added that there is no time frame but said that the police is on track.
Mumbai is infamous for the hold the underworld has in the city. Javed claimed that the setup today has been framed in such a way that the police is able to tackle the situation. However, he did not shy away from accepting that it still exists. "The means used to tackle the underworld is more honed. The number of cases have gone down," he said.
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