The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Terror strikes prompt safety measures

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 02, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Terror strikes prompt safety measures

M. Srinivas

Cloakrooms must for malls, theatres and amusement parks

Managements of public places advised to install safety gadgets
Terrorists targeting crowded places

File Photo

Buying spree: Crowded places face the risk of terrorist attacks and need fool-proof security measures. -

HYDERABAD: With possible terror strikes doing rounds even after the twin blasts, the City Security Wing (CSW) has made it mandatory for cloakrooms to be constructed in the space outside shopping malls, movie halls, amusement parks and other places that handle large volumes of floating population to prevent strangers from gaining entry with explosives.

Orders were issued to all Deputy Commissioners of Police, urging them to direct the managements of such public places to carve out space for cloakrooms on a war-footing.

Safety steps

CSW has also asked them to get surveillance cameras installed at strategic points and door frame metal detectors (DFMDs) at every entry, in addition to two security guards at the main entrance with hand-held metal detectors to regulate the passage of visitors through DFMDs. “Our aim is to restrict entry of unidentified persons carrying suspicious objects in bags”, said a senior police official.

He said terrorists were targeting only crowded places, which was clearly indicated from the blasts that claimed 42 lives at Gokul Chat in Koti and Lumbini Park, opposite the Secretariat, on August 25, not to forget the earlier explosion at Mecca Masjid on May 18.

Terrorists managed to enter all these places in the guise of general public and successfully executed their plans.

Meanwhile, manufacturers reported a manifold increase in enquiries for purchase of DFMDs and the hand-held versions, surveillance cameras and scanning machines since August 25.

“There are different models of security gadgets costing from Rs.2,000 to Rs.2 lakh,” said Deepak Jairaj, Director, Security Defence Systems. CSW’s Joint Commissioner Rajiv Ratan told The Hindu on Saturday that mana gements and owners of all major commercial establishments were asked to take precautionary measures and ensure public safety.

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