The guard is lowered in old city

Most business establishments have no doorframe metal detectors or security personnel

Life around the historical Charminar, The citizens in the crowded by lanes and streets near Pathergatti, Madina building and Charminar which are chock a block with activity especially during the Ramzan month which this year will coincide with the Dassera festival of the Hindus. This part of the city is known as its financial hub since the business done here is twice as much as any other area even in the newer regions. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Security seems to be far from satisfactory in the old city, leave alone fool-proof. Though this historic part of the city has always been on the hit list of terror groups, not much initiative is being taken by the authorities to make it safe, people feel.

To begin with, most of the eateries that bustle with visitors throughout the day have no doorframe metal detectors or any security personnel. Though a couple of eateries have installed metal detectors, they remain mere showpieces.

It is no different at the shops in the busy markets of Laad Bazaar, Pathergatti and Charminar. Only a few shops have fixed Closed Circuit (CC) cameras to monitor the visitors and only a handful have the facility of a cloak room.

In the aftermath of the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast, the city police had instructed the commercial establishment owners and traders to install security apparatus at their establishments. However, only a few of them have complied with the orders, it is said.

“In rush hours anyone can place any object and melt away in the crowds,” Abdul Zubair Ahmed, a concerned citizen feels. A vigil in the markets, especially during the evening hours when there is heavy rush, is necessary, he adds.

In view of the recent blast at Dilsukhnagar, the police have posted additional police personnel to maintain vigil at public places and tourists spots. “But it will continue only for a few days and things will be back to square one,” observes Syed Zainul Abadein, a school teacher.

The authorities should cancel the permission of commercial establishments that fail to comply with safety rules, people feel.

The administration at Mecca Masjid too appears not to have learnt lessons from the past. On Saturday afternoon, when this reporter visited the mosque, two policemen and women posted near the main gate of the mosque were casually seated on a chair and were asking visitors to come and get their bags checked.

None of the security guards present was frisking the visitors. It was the same scenario at the northern gate of Lad Bazaar; a lone security guard was seated there caring little about the developments around.