Date:09/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/09/stories/2008120952880300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Security concerns stalk Chennai skyline

S. Vijay Kumar

“Locals can cooperate in thwarting designs of anti-socials”

Photo: M. Vedhan

Is the city safe?: Safety can be ensured by a healthy partnership between the police and residents, officials say. —

CHENNAI: Gun-toting security personnel, frisking of baggage, verification of identity and passage through metal detectors…all these, of late, make up a common phenomenon in almost all areas of public gathering, including places of worship.

Security checks become so intense in airports, railway stations and bus stands at times that passengers are asked to report much ahead of the scheduled departure. While some preferred to stay at home, many others whose travel was imperative took pains to start early considering the security protocol. While people seem to have learnt to live with such security guidelines, the intensity and frequency of threat emanating from various terrorist organisations is only on the rise resulting in more and more restrictions on the activities of the common man.

Is Chennai safe? Is there any credible information on possible terrorist attacks in this city? When security is relaxed, does it mean that the threat has been neutralised? What is the role of Chennaiites in the whole scenario?

Some of these questions might be difficult to answer for classified reasons. However, central intelligence agencies perceive a definite threat consequent to the terror attack in Mumbai.

The latest was a possible ‘fidayeen attack’ by terrorists who had planned to hijack and blow up a plane.

“Whether Chennai is in the hit-list of terrorists is debatable. But considering the nature of attacks that cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai have faced in the recent years, the police here should not take a chance. There have been attempts in the past to trigger explosions in Tamil Nadu,” says a retired police official.

Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan, who was the Commissioner of Police in Coimbatore for more than three years immediately after the serial blasts there, says: “It is impossible to protect every individual…locals can contribute in many ways to avert sinister designs of anti-social elements. While renting out their premises, owners should ascertain the identities of tenants and veracity of their claims. Movement of strangers and any suspicious activity should be brought to the notice of the local police immediately. Police and people are inter-dependent,” he adds.

Police officials maintain that relaxation of security checks is no indication to threats being nullified.

In case of an emergency residents can seek help by calling the Police Control Room at 100.

The contact number of the Commissioner of Police is 044-2851 1003 and 044-2855 5064.