QRT can reach terror attack site in 7 minutes: Patil

26/11: four yrs on Home Minister says city police better equipped now

The state government claimed on Monday that the Quick Response Team (QRT) of Mumbai Police will take seven minutes to reach any place in the city that comes under a terror attack.

"Within seven minutes, teams of QRT will reach the spot. They undergo continuous training and have been posted across the city. If there is any traffic, the time may go up to nine minutes," Home Minister R R Patil told The Indian Express.

Four years after the 26/11 attack, the city is better equipped to tackle such contingency through QRT, one unit of the elite Force One and the newly-established hub of the National Security Guards (NSG). This three-tier response of the security forces has been developed after 26/11, when it took several hours for the NSG team to reach Mumbai.

Teams of QRT are posted in various regions of Mumbai. Force One, modeled on the NSG and trained by the agency, was formed after the attacks to tackle any such combat situation in the city and state. A hub of NSG has also been set up in Mumbai.

Maharashtra police has ensured a separate cadre and direct recruitment for the intelligence wing, which was recommended by the two-member Ram Pradhan Committee. The committee was set up by the government to look into the terror attack, point out lapses on part of the police and recommend measures to improve the city's security set-up. The report was partially accepted by the government and recommendations to strengthen Intelligence Wing, better equipment and co-ordination between agencies were taken up.

"We have implemented most recommendations made by the Ram Pradhan committee," said Patil.

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