Security tightened in Koregaon Park

PUNE: Following the bomb blasts in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Pune police have tightened security in and around Koregaon Park, which suffered a similar tragedy when a bomb exploded at the German Bakery on February 13, 2010.
Speaking to TOI on Thursday, additional commissioner of police Anant Shinde (crime) said the police have beefed up the bandobast in the Koregaon Park area.
Shinde said a platoon of state reserve police force (SRPF) and two policemen have been deployed near the German Bakery and the Chabad House. One more SRPF platoon and two policemen have been deployed at the Osho International Meditation Resort, he added.
On Thursday, police personnel were seen sprucing up the bunkers outside the Chabad House, while a 10-member team of the city police's Quick Response Team was stationed outside the Osho ashram.
Fresh bunkers were also being prepared outside the Ohel David Synagogue in Camp, which has been under police security since early last year.
Deputy commissioner of police Raghunath Khaire (zone II) told TOI, "We have increased security in and around Koregaon Park and are cautioning every establishment here. This part of Pune is often visited by foreigners and the police are in the highest state of alert."
Khaire said that no additional police force has been brought in from outside Pune. "The entire state and nation are on high alert. We will be making regular rounds here to check on the security measures," he added.
Amrit Sadhana from the Osho ashram said, "The security at the ashram is very tight and has been so since the last year. Every visitor is thoroughly screened. And we are doing all we can to remain extra-cautious. The stringent measures followed haven't affected the number of foreigners visiting us."
The German Bakery site on Thursday wore a deserted look. The bakery is still under renovation and is likely to open only by mid-August.
Meanwhile, most of the lanes off the North Main Road remained barricaded.
"In the last 12 months, my business has gone down by 70%. These barricades and other security measures certainly do not work in the favour of vendors like me," said Suman Kharwa, one of the several women, who has been selling hand-worked home decor in Koregaon Park, for the last 25 years.