Security stepped up at key installations

By T. Lalith Singh

HYDERABAD, OCT. 9. In the aftermath of recent spurt in terrorist activities, and also in view of the ongoing U.S. strikes on Afghanistan, all the sensitive installations, including those of defence and space, in the City have been put on a high alert.

There are several defence research installations, including the Defence Electronics Research Lab (DERL), the Defence Metallurgical Research Lab (DMRL) and the Defence Research and Development Lab (DRDL), located around Kanchanbagh area in the City, apart from the Ordnance Factory at Yeddumylaram in the nearby Medak district.

Following the alert, security apparatus under the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been beefed up at all these key units of the Defence Ministry. The guard has been enhanced and the round-the-clock vigilance was further strengthened, says a DRDL security official. ``We are working in close liaison with the local police and sharing security inputs pertaining to safety aspects,'' he said.

Several security measures were also initiated at the Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) with increased surveillance at vital installations and patrolling the perimeter walls. ``We are acting on instructions from the headquarters at New Delhi on security matters and have tightened the access control to the complex,'' an official said. Even visitors to various departments of the NFC were being personally escorted in and out by the security staff.

The watch at the highly-sensitive centres of the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) at Balanagar and its earth station at Shadnagar, about 55 km from the City, too have been stepped up. ``We have adequate force and more than 70 personnel are deployed to monitor the security aspects here. All the safeguards have been put in place apart from increasing surveillance,'' Mr. Sharma, Assistant Commandant, said.

Meanwhile, one person, who was allegedly moving under suspicious circumstances at the Ordnance Factory, was caught by security officials and handed over to the Sanga Reddy police. According to the police, a case under Sec. 41/109 has been filed and the person sent for medical examination as he appeared to be mentally unsound.

The security at the State Secretariat and the Begumpet Airport was also stepped up and visitors were thoroughly frisked before being allowed inside.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Photo ID cards for Hyderabadis
Next     : Cyberabad all set to become a reality