The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Feeling of insecurity grips people

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Feeling of insecurity grips people

Terrorist activity shifting from specific targets to public domain is a cause for concern

Photo: AP

PALPABLE TENSION: With terror reaching public places people are no longer feeling safe in the city.

HYDERABAD: One may praise it as resilience of Hyderabadis as the citizens resumed their routine after Saturday’s traumatic and the biggest ever terrorist strike in city that claimed 40 lives.

One may also appreciate the fact that increasing terrorist attacks in the city have not driven a communal wedge.

Yet the underlying tension is palpable when one talks to people. Though one tries hard to shake off the haunting visuals of ghastly act that rattled the city, there is no mistaking the lurking fear and a sense of insecurity that has enveloped people from all walks of life. With the terrorist acts growing in intensity and shifting from specific targets to public domain, increasing the death doll, life suddenly looks uncertain.

‘No longer safe’

“We no longer feel safe in a city where we have lived all our life. There is no guarantee anymore to people’s lives when they go out. Neither can we confine children to home nor can we remain at peace when they are out. We are scared to venture out now that the terror has reached public places,” said Mythili, a worried mother and housewife.

That sums up the threat perception and a feeling of helplessness pervading people after Saturday’s night of horror.

The developments have come as disappointment to NRIs who have come back to their home town. Vinay Palaparthy who came back from Botswana, and is into real estate business admits, “It is sad we have to live like this with constant fear. Anything can happen anytime. It is like your freedom is curtailed and right to live has been taken away. Crime, robbery was high there but one could guard oneself with precautions. But how does one deal with a faceless act of terrorism?” he asks.

“Yes, I don’t feel confident now to go out to parks, movies. People are indeed becoming paranoid. Media is not helping by showing all those gruesome pictures. It further disturbs the mind.” But he reasons, “Terrorism is a global issue and Hyderabad is not alone in this and the scourge need to be tackled globally. Saturday’s bomb strikes put Hyderabad in the world map for all the wrong reasons.”

“Government has to be apolitical when dealing with terrorism to infuse confidence in public. The average Muslims are good human beings. Serious efforts should be made to integrate them into society and cut their association with organisations with nefarious goals. One should realise next time the victim could be one’s own son, daughter, spouse to put a stop to this senseless vendetta,” says another gentleman on condition of anonymity.

‘A rude jolt’

Another NRI businessman who came back from US, S. P. Reddy, reacts. City came a long way from the 1980s days of communal tension and became peaceful. But Saturday gave a rude jolt, soon after Mecca Masjid blast, that Hyderabad was high on terrorists’ target. “We are cagey about venturing out.”

People are also sore that no strong message came either from the Government or top police brass to resurrect people’s confidence. “Top police officials should have addressed the public through media. Lack of co-ordination among top police officials and absence of command system in each zone along with surveillance system did not help. City life may seem normal but the fear is real,” he quips.

Security measures

He strongly feels even private establishments should employ high security check measures as the threat exists. The policemen, who stand guard near Hi-Tec city, don’t have any security tools nor do they check people on the route. “Is complacency already setting in even as people are willing to go through the security drill?” he asks.

The Chief Minister after visiting the blast sites stated that terrorists have no religion, ideology or a national identity. “Then why can’t the Governments, keeping aside vote bank politics, be firm in dealing with perpetrators of such heinous crimes and those who shelter them?” asked Rajesh, an executive. An answer every one would want to lead a life without fear.

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