[Tavern-Talk] Trust Talk - Security Measures in Meherabad, 14 November, 2009

[Tavern-talk]

Security Measures in Meherabad

Since the tragic events of August 26, 2009, when long-time residents 
Eric and Heather Nadel were attacked in their bungalow, resulting in 
Eric's death on September 6, the Trust has taken significant steps to 
upgrade the security arrangements at Meherabad, thereby providing a 
level of security that should help  pilgrims and residents feel safer.

A meeting was held in the Pilgrim Center on August 29, at which Nancy 
Biasi, the Chief of American Citizen Services at the American Consulate 
in Mumbai discussed security concerns with residents. While the meeting 
was in progress, a security team led by Vice-Consul Hayes, Assistant 
Regional Security Officer of the American Consulate, conferred with 
members of the Ahmednagar Police Force and inspected the scene of the 
crime with them. Vice-Consul Hayes then prepared a report discussing 
ways in which security could be improved in Meherabad.

After receiving the report, the Trust scheduled a second meeting in the 
Pilgrim Center on September 8, which was attended by Trustees, 
residents, and representatives from the Ahmednagar Police Force.  At 
this meeting, members of the Board discussed the findings of Vice-Consul 
Hayes' team and talked about security options that might be available, 
in addition to measures that residents could themselves take to ensure 
greater personal security.

After the September 8 meeting, the Meherabad Security Committee 
consulted with many security companies and prepared a detailed proposal 
on how to improve security at Meherabad.  Chairman Bhau Kalchuri 
approved the proposal on October 21.

The proposal calls for putting in place three trained supervisors, two 
for night shift and one for day shift, who will coordinate an emergency 
response team consisting of two patrol units for Lower and Upper 
Meherabad, with one armed guard in each.

Emergency dedicated telephone lines connected to the Meherabad Control 
Room will facilitate immediate response.  Each house, whether on the 
Trust estate or private residence, will be given a control number which 
will assist the Control Room to respond to emergencies; a chart with 
each of these numbers and the location of each residence will be 
displayed in the control room.

Putting these steps into place will send a strong signal to criminals in 
the area that Meherabad's security force is prepared to make criminal 
activities difficult if not impossible to commit.

V. S. Kalchuri, Chairman
A.M.B.P.P.C.TRUST