Mumbai: In a bid to ease the workload on the state police and bolster law enforcement, the Maharashtra government approved the recruitment of 15,000 new constables. The decision was finalised on Tuesday during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the recruitment will comprise 10,908 regular police constables, 234 police constable drivers, 25 police constables for the police band and 2,393 armed police constables. In addition, 554 prison constables will be inducted. The enrolment process will be conducted at the respective district level.

Details On Selection Procedure

The selection procedure will include an Optical Mark Recognition (OMR)-based written examination, followed by physical tests and document verification. The Additional Director General (ADG) of Police (Training) has been authorised to oversee the application scrutiny, physical assessments, and written exams.

Additionally, the government has announced a one-time special concession for candidates who exceeded the prescribed age limit of 18–28 years in 2022 and 2023, allowing them to apply in this recruitment cycle. The move aims to address delays in recruitment over the past two years, which had left many aspirants ineligible due to age restrictions.

last year, the Maharashtra Police’s recruitment drive to fill 17,471 posts, including constables, drivers, band personnel, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) members and jail staff, received an overwhelming 17.76 lakh applications, reflecting the high demand for positions in the state police force.

Highlighting the significance of the new recruitment, CM Fadnavis reportedly stated, “Police constables play an important role in maintaining law and order. This recruitment will help reduce the workload on the department.” He added that the expansion of the force will ensure better public safety and operational efficiency across Maharashtra.

The decision follows repeated recommendations from both the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, as well as from legislators across party lines, urging the state government to expedite the recruitment process to address manpower shortages in the police department.

With the approval now in place, the Maharashtra Police is expected to initiate the recruitment process soon, with a focus on transparent and efficient selection. The move is anticipated to majorly enhance the state’s policing capacity, improve response times and strengthen law and order in urban and rural areas alike.

Thane: The Thane Crime Branch has arrested two persons for allegedly possessing 15.9kg MD (mephedrone), a psychotropic substance, with the intent to sell it in the city. The accused – Tanvir Ahmad Ansari, 23, and Mahesh Desai, 35, residents of Mumbra and Ulhasnagar – were intercepted after a nakabandi on August 9 at Ranjnoli Naka on the Bhiwandi-Kalyan bypass road.

Cops Seize ₹31 Crore MD in Back-to-Back Car Interceptions

The police first stopped a car driven by Tanvir and, upon inspection, recovered 11.763kg MD. Soon after, another car driven by Mahesh was intercepted, and officials recovered 4.161kg MD powder from him; the total value of the contraband is Rs31.84 crore. Their cars and phones were seized by the police.

Preliminary interrogation revealed Tanvir is already named in three FIRs, including drug-related charges, at Mumbra, Daighar, and Byculla police stations. Mahesh, confessed to four prior offences, including cases under the NDPS Act and MCOCA at Ajara Police station in Kolhapur.

In a high-stakes simulation designed to test the city’s preparedness against terror threats, a full-scale mock drill was conducted at Mumbai Central Railway Station on Tuesday morning. The operation, staged just days ahead of Independence Day, aimed to evaluate the coordination and response capabilities of multiple security agencies in the event of a terrorist attack.

Initial Response and Intel Gathering

The drill commenced at approximately 11:29 am with a distress scenario: a Head Constable received intel about two armed terrorists holding a passenger hostage inside the General Hall of the bustling terminus. The suspects were believed to be concealed in the AC waiting room on the first floor.

Rapid Mobilisation of Security Forces

Responding swiftly, Senior Police Inspector Hemraj Kumbhar, along with a team of officers and Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector Nahar Singh, arrived on the scene. Acting in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) outlined by the Commissioner of Police (Railways), the team immediately informed the Mumbai Railway Control Room at 11:35 am and called in reinforcements.

Establishing Security Perimeter and Deployment

Within minutes, the area was cordoned off, with all entry and exit points to the General Hall sealed. Armed officers, including units from the Dog Squad, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), and the Quick Response Team (QRT), were deployed strategically across the site. The Riot Control Unit and Railway Protection Force assisted in establishing a security perimeter.

Threat Neutralisation Operation

At around 12:15pm, QRT commandos launched a meticulous room-to-room search operation to neutralize the simulated threat. Post-operation, BDDS teams from Ghatkopar HQ, accompanied by dog squads and RPF K9 units, combed through critical areas including the booking office, parcel area, and both waiting rooms to ensure the area was secure.

Exercise Concludes Successfully

The exercise concluded by 1:05 pm, successfully testing the readiness and coordination of Mumbai’s emergency services.

Manpower and Teams Involved

More than 50 personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) were involved in the operation, including one Senior Police Inspector, two Police Inspectors, two Sub-Inspectors, and 22 officers. The BDDS team, comprising four staff and one dog squad, played a crucial role, as did 15 RPF personnel—including one Inspector and two Sub-Inspectors—from Mumbai Central.

Supporting Units and Medical Preparedness

Also participating were 11 QRT commandos, a Riot Control Team of 11 personnel, and four members from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) based in Kala Chowki. An ambulance team was on standby for any medical emergencies.

Authorities Praise Proactive Security Measures

Authorities hailed the drill as a success, underscoring Mumbai’s proactive approach to national security and its commitment to public safety ahead of India’s 79th Independence Day.