Mumbai: The way an unknown attacker entered Saif Ali Khan’s building, the question is being raised among the people that how is there so much security in the building of a Nawabi family and a top film star like Saif. Now it has come to light that the responsibility of security of Saif’s Satguru Sharan building was entrusted to a housekeeping agency instead of a professional security agency. Therefore, there were no trained guards or other specific security protocols followed in the building.
Professional agencies provide training to security guards. They are also provided with necessary equipment for safety. But, there were no trained guards in Saif’s building. They also claimed that the names and phone numbers of guests entering the building or employees of home health, courier, foodapp agencies were not recorded in the visitor register. Police said that all these irregularities are being investigated. Many buildings have two levels of security checks, at the main entrance and each tower. In many buildings, no delivery man is even allowed to reach the floor. Many societies have an app-based security system where the security guard allows the concerned person to enter the building only after the resident gives prior permission. But, in the case of the Safni building, Ferias, who was standing outside, admitted that security guards often let them inside without checking or registering.
According to sources, many housing societies deploy guards from unlicensed agencies to reduce security costs. Despite the abundance of online service providers for security of buildings, there is no regulation in this area. No background checks are done. It is also not checked whether the soldier has training or not. In many societies, employees above 60 years of age are also working as security guards. Going to safety and sleeping after midnight is a very common sight in many societies.
A senior police officer said strict action would be taken against security agencies found negligent in appointing security guards and taking contracts without licenses. He said security agencies should follow ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ (SOP) for background check of guards.
There are 1500 licensed private security agencies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. They have six lakh security guards on duty in residential, government and corporate buildings. But along with this, 1200 unlicensed security agencies are also doing huge business. Two lakh guards are doing duty without training. Rupee. There is a demand that a government regulatory framework should be created for security agencies with an annual turnover of Rs 3000 crore.
