The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tight security still a far cry

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Saturday, May 17, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tight security still a far cry

There should be no scope for any security slip-ups in the city especially after the serial blasts in Jaipur, writes Marri Ramu

The serial blasts in Jaipur, one of the deadliest terror strikes the country witnessed, have relevance to Hyderabad in more than one way.

Such attacks have proved that terrorists are changing their targets every time they are striking, negating the temporary measures taken by the police.

If Parliament was attacked in 2001, Akshardham temple in Gujarat was targeted the next year.

In Hyderabad, when the police tightened security following an IED explosion at Sai Baba temple in 2002, the terrorists sent a suicide bomber to the Police Commissioner’s Task Force office in 2005.

Startled, the law-enforcers made their offices fortresses. But taking them by surprise, they struck at Mecca Masjid in May last.

Even as the police were clueless about the culprits, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat were attacked.

Unpredictable

That the terrorist outfits are unpredictable in choosing their targets is clear. But what is causing more damage is the ad-hoc reaction and short-term measures of the police. The security slip-ups surfaced during the random check at shopping malls and film theatres in the city in the backdrop of Jaipur serial explosions amply proves this.

Vulnerable

After the August twin blasts, police went around the city tom-tomming the need for security consciousness at all public and private places.

But the way police decoy parties managed to carry explosives and firearms into crowded places during the routine checks suggest that many public places in the State capital are vulnerable.

It is clear that not many had taken the security consciousness campaign launched by the police seriously and it needs to be vigorously pursued. Where are things going wrong then?

Consistency

Security and safety measures should be undertaken on a consistent basis.

If the door frame metal detector fails after some time, it should be replaced immediately because the slightest of slackness proves costly.

But, even after nine lives were lost in the explosion at Mecca Masjid, the surveillance camera system is not put in place there.

This only increases the risk factor going by the terror strikes witnessed across the country.

Dedicated wing

There is no dedicated wing to regularly monitor the status of security arrangements. Some police officers feel expertise of the security wings, comprising bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs, could be better utilised by sharing the security strategies and details of gadgets with the staff in-charge of security at public places.

Focus

From the security angle, every place is important and taking chances means putting the lives of people in danger. But the ongoing security exercises show that while focus is laid on city central parts, the crowded places on the city outskirts -- like the multiplex at Kompally and Shilparamam at Madhapur -- are being ignored.

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