The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Festivity amid security in old city

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Saturday, Sep 27, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Festivity amid security in old city

M. Srinivas

Undercurrent of anxiety omnipresent among the sea of humanity

Shopping in full swing as Ramzan month nears end
Small-time traders hopeful nothing would go wrong

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

SECURITY CONCERNS: A makeshift watch tower at a busy shopping area near Pathargatti in the old city.

HYDERABAD: One can’t make out whether it’s day or night here. The surroundings of Charminar are bursting at the seams, with incessant shopping activity, as the holy month of Ramzan nears end. However, scratch the surface and one could feel the undercurrent of anxiety omnipresent among the sea of humanity.

Nervous glances are cast over the shoulders, searching for the security personnel or for that known face among the crowd for some reassurance. The traders, whose year-long earnings depend on the success of this month, hope against hope that nothing would go wrong.

Major concern

Despite the festive ambience, security continues to be a major concern for one and all along the Madina-Charminar stretch, as terror threats loom large following the recent serial blasts in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi. The alarming aspect was the practice of terrorists abandoning carry bags and vehicles loaded with explosives at crowded places, something which will be a nightmare to detect along the Madina-Charminar-Pathergatti stretch.

Metal detectors installed in shopping malls can detect explosives, while CCTVs help in identifying those moving suspiciously. What about pavements swarming with people from sunset to almost the wee hours next day? “It’s difficult to identify strangers. Arguments ensue if we try making enquiries with anybody who arouses suspicion,” said a fruit vendor Kaleem at Madina. A notable factor that came to light after the Delhi police arrested terrorists in connection with the serial blasts, was that they were taking all preventive steps from being identified while planting bombs at public places.

Six sectors

Police, however, explained that elaborate security arrangements were made. “The Madina-Charminar road was divided into six sectors and each sector was guarded by a 10-member team headed by a sub-inspector. Bomb disposal squads were also conducting checking continuously,” said DCP (South) Atul Singh.

He added public address systems were constantly urging people to look out for unclaimed baggage and inform the police. Surveillance cameras were installed at Charminar and Mecca Masjid after bomb blasts in the Masjid in 2007.

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