Schools seek security lessons from cops after Uran terror scare

MUMBAI: After the Uran terror scare last month, when a school student claimed to have seen armed men near a naval base, city schools appear to be in a flurry to

MUMBAI: After the Uran terror scare last month, when a school student claimed to have seen armed men near a naval base, city schools appear to be in a flurry to increase their security.

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Although the student’s reports were later proved to be false, city schools have already begun to spread awareness among students and staffers through mock drills and expert talks about what they should do in case they come across any such incident.

After the attack on a Pakistan army school in December 2014, the city police had asked schools to build an eight-foot high compound wall topped with barbed wires, to keep off trespassers. But, in a space-starved city like Mumbai, schools do not have the space to build such walls or are unable to make structural changes due to the heritage status of the buildings. These schools are taking other steps such as conducting drills and safety talks to prepare the students for emergencies.

“We are worried about the kind of access people have to our school. It is located right in the front of the road and being an old building we cannot make too many changes so we are in talks with the police to know exactly what we can do to improve the school’s security,” said Meera Isaacs, principal of Cathedral and John Connon School in Fort.

“The Uran incident made us aware that students need to be alert and conscious of their surroundings. They should not take security lightly and misreport but they should be vigilant,” said Father Francis Swamy, principal, St Mary’s School (ICSE), Mazgaon.

To train students in being vigilant, St Mary’s is organising a talk on safety and security by the naval authorities later in the month.

St Michael School, Mahim, last week, conducted a drill to test their readiness in case terrorists or miscreants enter the building.