The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Militants' arrest raises security concerns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 28, 2006
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Militants' arrest raises security concerns

The police had suggested the need for having the Parliament House kind of security model for the Vidhana Soudha, writes K.V. Subramanya

THE SECURITY concerns of the Bangalore police over holding "Janapada Jaatre" in front of the Vidhana Soudha during the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations have increased with the Mysore police on Friday unravelling plans of Al-Badr militant outfit to attack the Vikasa Soudha.

Despite the concerns expressed by the top brass of the city police, the State Government decided to hold "Janapada Jaatre" in front of the Vidhana Soudha every second Saturday till October next.

Unrestricted entry of the public to the building may lead to security problems as the Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha are the likely targets of terrorist groups, senior police officials say.

They feel that it would be improper and also a difficult exercise to screen all the art-loving people who come to the event. "If we ensure strict security during the jaatre, the festive mood will be lost. If we don't, the security will be at stake. The Government has to seriously rethink whether to hold jaatre at the Vidhana Soudha," a senior official said.

Security at the Vidhana Soudha was tightened and entry of the public restricted after the terrorist attack on Parliament House in 2001.

The police had suggested to the previous N. Dharam Singh Government the need for having the Parliament House kind of security model for the Vidhana Soudha and installation of a watchtower, among other measures.

"Threat is perceived from the neighbouring telecom building/areas of green vegetation and ornamental plants of thick bushy growth providing a safe cover all around the Vidhana Soudha and from the High Court by rocket launchers and mortars," the police had told the Government.

They pointed out that the major drawbacks in the present system at the Vidhana Soudha were parking of vehicles, parking under grand stand, non-existence of continuous perimeter fence, multiple entries from all sides, haphazard parking, entry and exit of men and material, people accompanying legislators, MPs and officials and public access to banks and treasury inside the Vidhana Soudha.

The police had made four major recommendations: visitor, vehicle, material and employee management systems and requested the Government for providing turnstiles, close circuit television (CCTV), sniffer dog squad, X-ray machines, reception complex, explosive detectors, mail bomb parcel scanner for checking mail, alarm system, door frame metal detector, hand-held metal detector, security control office, modern arms and ammunition, binoculars and night vision devices.

But only some of these measures have been put in place so far.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka