The threat of ISIS is real: Outgoing CP Ahmad Javed

Outgoing Mumbai police commissioner, director general Ahmad Javed said on Friday that the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), “is for real”.

“The threat of ISIS is for real,” said Mr Javed as he spoke at length with the press on his penultimate day in the force.

“In the backdrop of the recent crackdown by NIA and ATS it looks that the threat of ISIS is real. A lot of study has been done and importance given to the issue. To counter it work is going on at the state level and a holistic view has been taken. Strategies are being chalked out. To tackle terrorism and radicalisation we are improving our Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) and we have to be alert and that’s what we were doing,” said Mr Javed.

When asked by this correspondent if any initiative taken up by him has been left unfinished due to his short four-month stint as the CP or if any proposal sent to the home department has been caught up in red tape, Mr Javed replied in the negative.

“The work of modernising the force is underway. I am sure it will happen in time. Mumbai will be under CCTV surveillance completely by this year end,” he said.

He also parried the query on the deportation of several pilgrims from India by Saudi Arabia with a possibility of banning the entry permanently. “I need to study and examine things. I can’t speak off hand. But I promise I will work there sincerely,” he said. Mr Javed in about a couple of weeks will take charge as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

The commissioner also announced that the dedicated Twitter handle for Mumbai Traffic Police, which in a short period of time has amassed 34,000 followers, would be made permanent. “A Mumbaikar needs it a lot,” he said. “It’s impossible that the initiative of using Twitter to connect with people will stop as very important and serious issues are attractively packaged and communicated. It’s not boring and is very much required,” he said.