Date:27/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/27/stories/2008072758330500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Terror threat: is the police prepared? Law and order

The problem with policing the city is that it comes under jurisdiction of two commissionerates, says Marri Ramu

Upcoming cities are the natural targets of terrorist outfits and the threat perception is only increasing day-by-day as they keep striking. The serial bomb blasts in Bengaluru on Friday confirm this.

Having already witnessed two deadly terror attacks last year -- first on May 19 at Mecca Masjid and on August 25 at Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat -- Hyderabad too is still under the radar of terrorists. Law enforcing agencies took cognisance of this and embarked upon security sensitisation programmes.

But are the security measures up to the mark and the official machinery geared up to face such eventualities? The problem with policing the State capital is that it comes under jurisdiction of two police commissionerates -- Hyderabad and the Cyberabad.

Higher-ups of the two units have their own priorities be it controlling crime or regulating traffic. While helmet rule enforcement is given a major thrust in city, it is not so on outskirts. Unfortunately, the same situation prevails on the front of security at public and private places.

There are many places like multiplexes and shopping malls in Cyberabad that are yet to have basic security equipment.

This is one side of the coin. On the other, both the police units have not developed any unified command centres to tackle the situation in the event of an attack.

When the rescue operations are undertaken, several government wings and agencies get involved. It is not yet defined whose role is what. Who -the police officer or the medical department official or the fire service personnel- would supervise and co-ordinate?

Traffic issue

Thanks to the concept of 108 emergency medical service, there are sufficient number of ambulance services now. But would the official machinery be able to effectively utilise the services. It is reported that traffic went haywire soon after the serial blasts in Bengaluru and mobile phone lines got jammed?

If a terror strike or a major accident is reported during daytime, do the police have plans to ensure smooth flow of traffic with minimum inconvenience to school kids and patients being taken to hospitals.

The doubts are raised because recently a single man’s suicide threat at Somajiguda held up traffic for over three hours.