Marine Drive, one of the city’s most popular hangouts, has over the past month been put under a special evening bandobast. The decision was taken after the police observed a spurt in crimes on the promenade when it is the most crowded.
The Marine Drive promenade, which stretches from Nariman Point all the way to Charni Road, witnesses the highest number of footfalls every day, especially in the evenings when families, couples, groups of youngsters and fitness enthusiasts converge on the semi-circular stretch. Additionally, people from other cities make it a point to visit Marine Drive.
A large number of hawkers, selling everything from eatables to trinkets, also roam the stretch every evening, while beggars, too, beg for alms during this time, which adds to the crowds. The police said criminal elements take advantage of this chaos.
“For the past one month, we have been imposing a special bandobast at Marine Drive, which includes six policemen on bicycles and additional patrolling on foot from 5 pm to 11.30 pm, when the promenade is the most crowded. We are also clearing out hawkers and beggars from the promenade,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma, Zone I.
In June last year, the police had procured bicycles for police stations with beaches and promenades in their jurisdiction, so these stretches could be patrolled more effectively and speedily.
Another senior police official said the maximum number of crimes reported on Marine Drive till the bandobast was imposed were chain snatching, sexual harassment, pickpocketing and theft of valuables, particularly cell phones and handbags.
The Marine Drive police, however, have strict instructions that while they are to prevent sexual harassment, at no point are they to indulge in moral policing.
