With rise in cases of octroi evasion and anti-social elements threatening the civic officials, the octroi department had demanded a security cover of 100 armed guards at the posts. “We have agreed to provide the security at the posts. However, for now we will depute one armed guard in each shift at the posts,” said Additional Municipal Commissioner Mahadeo Sangle. With BMC possessing only 25 arms licenses so far, the civic officials said that due to the shortage of arm licenses, it won’t be possible to depute 100 armed guards at the octroi posts.

“We will have to undertake the assessment of the security department and accordingly provide armed guards at nakas. After the 26/11 attacks, security has been beefed at all the civic establishments and we will not be able to spare the number of guards demanded by the octroi department. But we will try and provide maximum guards at the posts,” said a senior civic official.