The shooting incident outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s residence earlier this year, coupled with the assassination of prominent politician Baba Siddique in October, has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the Mumbai police’s intelligence system. Both cases underscore a troubling security lapse: shooters from the Bishnoi gang successfully smuggled weapons into the city and stayed in Mumbai for a month to conduct reconnaissance, evading detection.

In response, senior Mumbai police officials, including Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, have stressed the urgent need to bolster local intelligence mechanisms. They emphasised the importance of monitoring newcomers, particularly those staying in rented accommodations. While property owners were previously required by law to inform local police stations about their tenants, enforcement had been lax. Mumbai police have now begun rigorously implementing this mandate, registering multiple FIRs against property owners who failed to comply. These actions signal a renewed commitment to improving security and preventing similar breaches.