Mumbai Police to patrol city on horses, first time since 1932

Mumbai city is all set to get a mounted police unit to control traffic and crowd. It is after a gap of 88 years that the mounted police is making a comeback to the city. The last they were seen was in the year 1932. Maharashtra’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh revealed that the mounted police will be deployed on duty after taking part in the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park this year. The mounted police was disbanded in 1932 due to the growing vehicular traffic.

Regal in stature, Formidable in form, the “Mounted Police Unit” returns to Mumbai Police.
Thank you @ManishMalhotra for designing such an elegant uniform for our Riders.
Our Mounted Unit is sure to make a strong impact during law and order situations. pic.twitter.com/S0T6bcvdR9

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 19, 2020

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said, “Today Mumbai police has modern jeeps and motorcycles. However, it was felt a mounted police unit would be useful for crime patrol in crowded areas. Accordingly, for the first time since Independence, Mumbai will have mounted police units.”

Hon’ble Home Minister, Maharashtra, Shri Anil Deshmukh, inaugurated the new “Mounted Police Unit” today in the presence of CP Mumbai, Shri Sanjay Barve & other senior officers today at Shivaji Park.@cmomaharashtra@DGPMaharashtra@pmoindia@Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/H7LUnFehWz

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 19, 2020

He further added that the horses in the unit can be used for crowd control during festivals and marches, at beaches and the rider can keep watch from a good height. At present, 13 horses have been purchased and the rest will be bought in the next six months. A stable will be built on a 2.5-acre plot at Marol in Andheri East. In the next six months, the unit will comprise 30 horses apart from a sub-inspector, one assistant PSI, four havaldars and 32 constables.

Deshmukh claimed a policeman on horseback was equal to 30 personnel on the ground. The unit could later be replicated in Pune and Nagpur too.

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