MUMBAI, January 29: The Mumbai police are launching a special arms training programme for jewellers. Alarmed by a spate of robberies, the department is also giving preference in issuing arms licenses to jewellers.``We are expecting over 500 to sign in initially. The arms training will be combined with the use of several other safety devices such as burglar alarms and closed-circuit TVs. The first batch will start training next month,'' Additional Police Commissioner (north-west) Dr Satyapal Singh said. Training sessions will be conducted at the Naigaon police parade ground and the Mahalaxmi firing range under the supervision of senior officers. Dr Singh said that there are many jewellers who have arms but do not use them because they are not very comfortable. ``This is an opportunity for them to learn practical skills to handle arms,'' he said.
However, the jewellers' community is sharply divided over the desirability of such `elite' training programmes. A section of jewellers is of the view that suchsteps would benefit only the big names in the trade, who can afford expensive security services and fancy gadgets. ``Usually it's the small and medium shops that are targetted by robbers. Most such shops are in the suburbs and are located in crowded markets,'' A Borivli jeweller said.
Singh has an answer. He is working on a security model for jewellery shops, curiously called the `DEAL SIP' formula. It comprises a set of instructions for the shop owner. Starting with the right design of the shop (location of doors and windows), the formula goes on to deal with other areas like screening of employees and visitors. Dr Singh is consulting experts from various fields for this.
The owner of Danabhai Jewellers at Santacruz, Ashok Jhaweri, says the situation warrants drastic measures, and adds that jewellers are finding it extremely difficult to operate in the prevailing atmosphere of fear.While he supports the steps being taken by the police, president of the Bombay Bullion Association, M L Damani, is not veryhappy. ``Just drawing the do's and dont's for us will not help. There is a need to change the environment around the jewellers' shops. Police should do something to infuse confidence among them,'' he said.
Police Commissioner R H Mendonca said such efforts were being made. The department is holding meetings with traders and housing societies to discuss and implement security measures. ``To control crime, people's participation is very essential. We will take up such projects on larger scale in the future,'' he said. Talking about the recent killings of two jewellers and mysterious disappearance of a jeweller and his family, a senior officer said that all three incidents are individual in nature and cannot be clubbed together ``as a threat to the jewellers community.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
