Security blanket around Mayor

Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal has finally got four security personnel ufffd two armed policemen and two guards ufffd to protect him. On Monday, Rajpal was attacked with black ink by activists of the Oam Patit Pawan Sanghatana on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) premises.

After the ink attack on him, Rajpal had lodged a complaint with the Shivajinagar police. He had also expressed dissatisfaction with the security at the PMC with the Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade.

So far, no arrests have been made in the case.u00a0

u00a0"I feel a little uncomfortable with the security guards. In fact, I was reluctant to have such system around me, but there was no option but to go ahead with this when the police and the PMC Chief Security Officer Ramesh Shelar insisted on it," Rajpal said. "Now I have four men for my security, including the one at my home in Rasta Peth."u00a0

The security has come as a cumbersome deal for citizens who want to meet him in his office. People have to write down their name, address and telephone number in a register before entering the Mayor's cabin.

"There should be a distinction between people who want to meet the Mayor and those who look like goondas," said Amol Kulkarni, a senior citizen from Kothrud. "I have to wait for 20 minutes only to get my belongings checked. Do I look like a terrorist or goon?"

Leaders expressed concern over the security lapses on the PMC building premises. "It is sad that the Mayor was made the target," said Nilesh Nikam, leader of the PMC House.