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Cops ill-equipped to deal with a terrorist attack
EXPERTS FEEL that long-hour of rostering at night makes the city more susceptible to terrorist attack as the security personnel had busted terrorist outfits several times in the past.
EXPERTS FEEL that long-hour of rostering at night makes the city more susceptible to terrorist attack as the security personnel had busted terrorist outfits several times in the past.
While the security personnel have adopted anti-riot measures by deploying forces in sensitive areas, the police department is not equipped with any system to deal with riots or terrorist attack during the rostering period at night.
The city has several important establishments including the Ordnance Factory, Indian Institute of Technology, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, but the police department is armed with only decade-old night surveillance system.
A senior police officer, on condition of anonymity, said, “The police department is not able to provide those sensitive establishments with proper night security.”
Incidents galore when terrorists were arrested in the city, on August 14, 2001 after twin bombs blast took place at the posh Arya Nagar locality. The terrorists belonging to LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen, likc Mumtaz Maulana, Wasif Syed Haider, Gulam Jilani, Rehman, Gulam Nasi alias Kala Kashmiri and Atiq Ataichiwala, were arrested from the city.
Besides, the city outfits of Hizbul Mujahideen were busted after some SIMI units were unearthed by the police. One of the arrested persons identified himself as the all-India finance manager of SIMI.
On the basis of the past incidents and the Intelligence Bureau reports, the city is prone to terrorist attack. Some senior police officers feel that nothing has been done to deal with Varanasi-like situation.
A source in the Intelligence Department of the state police said that due to late night rostering anyone could plant explosives at any important establishment in the city.
SSP PC Meena, said, “There is no doubt that due to late night power rostering the police are facing difficulties patrolling and routine checking.”
When the SSP was told to comment on whether he had spoken about it to the KESCo officials, he said, “They all know about the power crisis, but nobody knows when the things will improve.”
