While uncertainty prevails over shifting of Commissioner of Police R H Mendonca, the alliance government is likely to shunt out at least one Joint Commissioner of Police and half a dozen deputy commissioners. Sources said Chief Minister Manohar Joshi would bring in the changes once the four-day Agro Advantage Maharashtra World Investors Convention, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on November 6, was over.

In the wake of the daylight murder of cassette king Gulshan Kumar in August 1997 and subsequent murder of leading builder Nattubhai Desai near Mantralaya, Subhashchandra Malhotra, who was then at the helm of affairs, was shifted to a less important post, while Mendonca, who was then the additional director general of police (Crime) was brought in his place.

ThoughDeputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde had on Monday ruled out the possibility of any change in the Mumbai police, Joshi today hinted at a major overhaul. ``Certainly, if there is no improvement, I will have to make changes in the police administration,'' he said. Munde's contention was that if, at this juncture, any reshuffle were made, it would further demoralise the police force which has already been demoralised following the report of the Judge Aguiar committee which probed into encounter deaths.

Expressing shock over the spate of shootings in the metropolis, Joshi said it was time now for him to give an ultimatum to the police to restore law and order. ``By and large, the people are safe in the metropolis. But there is a scope for improvement,'' he added.

Joshi hoped that with the help of the new legislation - The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime - the draft of which was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, the police will be in a position to control organised crime. ``The cabinet has unanimouslyapproved the draft. We have submitted it to the centre for approval. In addition, we will also require the ascent of President K R Narayanan. After completing all these formalities we will recommend to Governor P C Alexander to promulgate an ordinance for the purpose,'' Joshi said.

Meanwhile, both Director General of Police Arvind Inamdar and Commissioner of Police R H Mendonca claimed that the law and order situation was well under control and that there was no threat to the common man. ``Certainly, we are concerned about the spate of killings and we are taking all necessary steps to curb the gangland activities in the metropolis. We have further strengthened the anti-extortion cells,'' Inamdar said.

Inamdar said once the new legislation came into force, there will be marked improvement in the law and order situation. ``Then we will have more powers to deal with the gangsters,'' he added.

Endorsing Inamdar's views, Mendonca admitted that the shootouts were a matter of concern for the entire policeforce.

``No doubt that a large number of incidents of shootings have taken place in the recent past. But on our part, we are also taking drastic action against criminals and gangsters. There is absolutely no slackness in our administration,'' Mendonca added.