Informing cops on property rentals mandatory
Failing to do so will invite imprisonment and fine; measure taken to enhance security in city
In wake of recent events like the Jaipur serial blasts and apprehensions that terrorists could use rented premises as hide-outs, the city police has made it mandatory for everybody to intimate them about property rentals.
Flat owners, landlords, tenants and property dealers must write to the local police stations about flats being rented out. Failing to do so will invite imprisonment and a fine, according to an order issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Ashutosh Dumbare.
When asked if the police had issued the order in wake of any input from any central agencies, Dumbare said, We keep getting inputs regularly. Mumbai is the financial capital of the country with many vital installations and it is very important that we enhance its security.
In February this year, Fahim Ansari, an alleged Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operative arrested from UP, had said that he had carried out a recce of a dozen sensitive cases in the city and had also rented a flat in the citys red light area.
A senior officer from the Anti Terrorism Squad said regular nakabandis and combing is being done at hotels, lodges and dhabas following Jaipur blasts.
You can not quantify the number of incidents which have been averted due to patrolling and combing. Fahim, who had rented the flat in a Dalit-dominated area, left the city in a hurry as police presence was increased in the area due to clashes in other Dalit pockets at that time, he said.