Even as police manned the city with extra vigil following the Koregaon Park blast in Pune, people flocked to the ‘happening’ places on Valentine’s Day.
Places like Colaba, especially Cafe Leopold’s — a 26/11 target — saw patrons standing in queues for their turn at the table. Foreign nationals, who incidentally were the target in the Pune blast on Saturday, left their fear back in their hotel rooms to be a part of the frolicking crowd on a special day.
“Security has been beefed up at the places which are frequented by foreign nationals,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, law and order. He added that security has been tightened at railway stations and bus stands too.
Many foreigners believe that a visit to the city is incomplete without some time spent in Cafe Leopold’s. “I came to Mumbai a week ago with my girlfriend. I don’t fear anything, and I am celebrating Valentines Day with her at Leopold’s,” said Ali Ahmad, an Iraqi national.
Cafe Mondegar, another favourite destination for youths in Colaba, was also packed throughout the day. Not deterred by the ubiquitous khaki-clad men, many foreign nationals mingled with the locals at the Kala Ghoda festival.
“It is sad that people lost their lives in Pune. Yes, it is scary, but these acts can’t hold us back from exploring this city,” said Joseph John, a US national. The crowd flocking towards the festival in fact was the reason for traffic jams between Kala Ghoda and Colaba Market.
“The photo exhibition at the festival is great. There is police everywhere and it makes us little uncomfortable; but then, it is for the security of the people,” said Balinda Lee, a British. Police presence was visible at Nariman House, the seat of the Rabbis in the city that was another target of terrorists during the November 26, 2008 attacks.
The police said that in order to accommodate the personnel according to needs, their deployment has been reduced at the cinema halls where Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan is being screened.
