Mumbai city is all set to get a mounted police unit to control traffic and crowd. It is after a gap of 88 years that the mounted police is making a comeback to the city. The last they were seen was in the year 1932. Maharashtra’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh revealed that the mounted police will be deployed on duty after taking part in the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park this year. The mounted police was disbanded in 1932 due to the growing vehicular traffic.
Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said, “Today Mumbai police has modern jeeps and motorcycles. However, it was felt a mounted police unit would be useful for crime patrol in crowded areas. Accordingly, for the first time since Independence, Mumbai will have mounted police units.”
He further added that the horses in the unit can be used for crowd control during festivals and marches, at beaches and the rider can keep watch from a good height. At present, 13 horses have been purchased and the rest will be bought in the next six months. A stable will be built on a 2.5-acre plot at Marol in Andheri East. In the next six months, the unit will comprise 30 horses apart from a sub-inspector, one assistant PSI, four havaldars and 32 constables.
Deshmukh claimed a policeman on horseback was equal to 30 personnel on the ground. The unit could later be replicated in Pune and Nagpur too.
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