Security agencies wake up to smell of danger

The reality check carried out by Hindustan Times that exposed chinks in the security of public places in Delhi and NCR has jolted security agencies out of their slumber. Team HT reports.

The reality check carried out by Hindustan Times that exposed chinks in the security of public places in Delhi and NCR has jolted security agencies out of their slumber.

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The brass of security agencies like the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Police and Noida Police conducted surprise visits at the spots where the reality check was carried out and took swift action to cover loopholes in security.

A CISF team including Additional Director General and Inspector General visited the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, where a bag kept by an HT
Team went unnoticed for 1.5 hours. Senior officers questioned the officers posted at the airport and asked them to submit a report about security loopholes.

The CISF has also intensified frisking and checking of baggage at Metro stations.

“Security checks by our men are obviously better than any other guarded places. We have still asked our men at Metro stations to intensify checks,” said a senior CISF officer.

CISF also has asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to put intelligent software in its centralised CCTV surveillance system which has 5,200 cameras.

The Delhi division of northern railways too reacted to their security loopholes. The HT Team had placed a bag at Platform number 2 of New Delhi Railway Station which went unnoticed for more than an hour.

“New cameras will be commissioned in a week’s time. CCTV control room has been asked to be more vigilant. We’ll also ask the railway police and general railway police to get their act together,” said Ashwani Lohani, divisional railways manager, northern railways.

In Noida, police beefed up security at market places. According to a senior police official, they will soon conduct a workshop for police officials and RWAs to sensitise them against any suspicious object.

Team HT had left a bag in Sector 18 parking lot, Sector 18 Police post, Centerstage Mall food court and outside Botanical garden Metro station. The bag was not spotted at the parking and police post.

To check the police’s preparedness, SSP and SP of Noida have started conducting surprise night visits. In their first visit, they caught police officers sleeping and watching movies.