The city police are facing a difficult situation in areas such as Lily Pond near Central railway station where some of the traders seem to be reporting every unusual move noticed in the locality in recent days.
A bomb scare was created two months ago and the police personnel had to rush to the locality. On Tuesday, as yet another phase of rumours pertaining to bombs created scares in Lily Pond shopping complex area, police personnel in the locality had to intervene and reassure some of the local traders of their safety.
According to the police, the frequency of rumours has increased in such areas after the police conducted a bomb detection drill recently. A few weeks ago, a bomb detection squad conducted the drill in the area, which heightened concerns among traders.
As many as 859 commercial units are in the Lily Pond shopping complex of the Chennai Corporation and large sections of the second and third floors of the complex remain vacant. A large number of people visit the locality because of its proximity to the railway station. Any parcel accidentally left behind by a person in the commercial area creates a flutter now.
“But the police have to be vigilant all the time even though repeatedly scares are created by people,” said a police personnel in the locality. A recent bomb threat to the Egmore railway station was found to be a hoax after a bomb detection squad with sniffer dogs combed the station premises.
“We are vigilant. But we also have to create awareness among people and ensure that caution does not become a scare. The top officials may have to chalk out a strategy for this too,” the policeman said.
