Hoax call at Mumbai’s diamond hub

The bomb scare at Panchratna building, Mumbai’s diamond hub, on December 26, 2008, was triggered off by a call from a PCO at Girgaum, Mumbai, to the Diamond Merchants Association, warning of a bomb blast in the building as it was the anniversary of the terror attack in the city. According to N R Mali, senior police inspector at the Dr. D B Marg police station in whose jurisdiction the building falls, the “police was quick to respond. Our entire team was at Panchratna at 4 pm and we rigorously checked the building till 6.30 pm.” The police also checked out the PCO at Girgaum from where the call was made, but drew a blank as records of phone users are not maintained at any PCO.

The slow evacuation of the building by diamond traders has drawn criticism in the city, which has just been the victim of a brutal terror attack. Senior PI Mali points out that “there are 40,000-50,000 people in this building every day including visitors, so a quick evacuation is not possible. We have recommended that there should be security guards with walkie-talkies on every floor.” The police also recommends monthly security drills in the building to sensitise diamond merchants to emergencies, but faces resistance from the traders who consider this a ‘disturbance’ in their business.

In the wake of urban terrorism across the country, the gem and jewellery industry needs to re-evaluate its attitude to security issues. Any laxity could extract a high price from an industry which is already reeling under a severe global recession. The police believe that the industry is vulnerable and strenuous efforts should be made to reform existing security.