Hi-tech security for city shrines

PLACES OF worship in the city will have centrally monitored closed circuit television cameras, hand-held metal detectors, other hi-tech gadgets and private security guards to nip terrorists? designs in the bud. The decision was prompted by last Tuesday?s bomb blast at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi. It was taken at a meeting that Inspector General of police, Allahabad zone, Ambrish Chandra Sharma held with heads of shrines and other police officials. Police have offered to train private security guards in dealing with terrorist attacks and the use of hi-tech gadgets.

PLACES OF worship in the city will have centrally monitored closed circuit television cameras, hand-held metal detectors, other hi-tech gadgets and private security guards to nip terrorists’ designs in the bud.

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The decision was prompted by last Tuesday’s bomb blast at Sankat Mochan temple in Varanasi. It was taken at a meeting that Inspector General of police, Allahabad zone, Ambrish Chandra Sharma held with heads of shrines and other police officials.

Police have offered to train private security guards in dealing with terrorist attacks and the use of hi-tech gadgets. The private guards will keep vigil during lean days. During peak hours, they will be assisted by the police.

Senior superintendent of police Vijay Singh Meena urged heads of these shrines to send a list of security guards deployed by them so that identity cards could be issued to them.

He also suggested construction of access control pipe barricades.

Apart from the IG and the SSP, those who participated in the meeting were DIG Akhilesh Mehrotra, all the circle officers, Alopi Devi Temple chief priest Yogendra Giri, Sachchidanand Misra of Hanumat Niketan (Civil Lines), Kari Mohammad of the Gausia Mosque in Kareilly, Khuldabad Gurudwara pramukh sewak Sardar Kamaljeet Singh and Qazi Mohammad Gulam Raza of the Kotwali Jama Masjid.