Security lapses at Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra residence spark concerns over housing society safety | File Photo
Mumbai: The stabbing incident at actor Saif Ali Khan’s Bandra apartment on Thursday has brought the focus on security at housing societies in metropolitan Mumbai. Saif’s building had two guards at the time of the incident, but neither of them noticed the assailant enter or exit the place.
The problem is that most societies hire watchmen through so-called security agencies whose priority is to maximise profit and not ensure security of their client’s premises thus rendering them totally vulnerable.
Said advocate Vinod Sampat: “Most agencies violate the Security Guards Board Act which lays down clear rules to govern them. In fact, very few of the agencies are registered with the board. The guards are a most exploited lot trying to eke out a living in Mumbai. To supplement their low income they wash cars and run errands just to be able to survive.”
Ram Agarwal (name changed) chairman of the housing society in Mulund: “A security agency is providing four guards for our building. We pay Rs 15,000 per month per guard. But the guard gets only Rs 7,000 per month. He has to work for seven days a week and 12 hours a day. How do you expect him to be alert? Many of them simply sleep at night. Some of them even do double shifts which makes them even more tired.”
Anuradha Redij, an Andheri resident observed “The common complaint in all societies is that the watchman is sleeping. But what else do you expect him to do when he is working non-stop for 12 hours and that too for a pittance.”
A senior police inspector said the primary responsibility for the incident at Saif’s residence is to be blamed on the guards. “Had they been alert, the intruder could have been stopped at the entrance itself,” he added. Sampat said some of the guards are hand in glove with criminals and in fact provide information to the latter about members.
With a view to cut costs, security agencies engage even senior citizens. “Young guards insist on at least Rs 10,000 per month. So the agency owners opt for senior citizens who are willing to work for as low as Rs 6,000 per month. What kind of alertness do you expect from them? Ashok Shah, a Ghatkopar resident asked.
Many societies are averse to directly engaging guards since finding a replacement when a guard goes on leave is quite a task. The office-bearers feel that their building is safe by outsourcing security to agencies. The agencies are supposed to be registered with the Guard Board formed by the government.
But most of the agencies do not follow the rules of the Board. They do not pay minimum wage nor give provident fund and other benefits. The agencies are also supposed to inform the local police station and give it a list of guards whom they propose to deploy in a particular society. But this is rarely done.
