The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Chinks lay exposed at Gokul Chat, Lumbini Park

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Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Chinks lay exposed at Gokul Chat, Lumbini Park

M. Srinivas

August 25 marks the first anniversary of Hyderabad twin blasts which claimed 40 lives

. - Photos: Mohd Yousuf

It’s business as usual: A outer view of Lumbini laserium and Gokul Chat eatery (right) in Hyderabad on Saturday on eve of first anniversary of twin blasts

HYDERABAD: “Be cautious about strangers and abandoned objects. Alert police if you find anyone moving suspiciously…” a message floats through the public address system installed at Gokul Chat in Koti.

But the reality is quite reverse, exposing chinks in security system at the popular eatery even as coming Monday marks one year of the brutal killing of 40 persons in bomb blasts that ripped through Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park in the city on August 25 last year.

Customers who throng the popular eatery continue to keep their handbags and luggage at ‘kulfi’ counter where the deadliest bomb planted by terrorists had gone off. As there is no cloakroom facility, women and youngsters enter the shop directly carrying their bags. One can imagine the precarious situation during evenings when there is a huge turnout.

“We are allowing customers only after checking them with a metal detector,” claims shop owner Premchand. Private security guards were also deployed to frisk customers.

He says four surveillance cameras were installed to monitor strangers’ movements. Asked about cloakroom, he replies the facility could not be provided due to lack of space.

At Lumbini Park, there is a semblance of some security arrangements. However, authorities appear to have overlooked one crucial aspect – that of checking the vehicles before allowing them into the parking lot. Five CCTV cameras continuously record the movement of visitors at Lumbini Park and at the laserium where bomb went-off. There are as many as 60 trained guards to frisk tourists. Interestingly, the police who made it mandatory for checking of all vehicles at malls, commercial complexes and theatres seem to have forgot the Lumbini parking lot. Deputy Estate Manager of the park, M. Gopal Kishan Rao asserts that there are adequate security measures to ensure safety of visitors. The park attracts over 5,500 visitors everyday.

“The turnout declined during first two months after the incident and it picked up gradually”, he explains. The checking of vehicles in the parking lot is the responsibility of the contractor maintaining the area, he adds.

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