Cops gear up to beat ‘Black Day’ blues
Monday, 03 December 2007
Hyderabad, December 03: Bomb blasts in the city and other parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Ajmer and Ludhiana, have led the city police to chalk out detailed strategies for December 6, the Babri Masjid demolition day, observed as ‘Black Day’.
Besides large-scale deployment of police personnel in the Old City, the police are taking several other measures following several alerts from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the State Intelligence wing.
Top police sources told Media persons that several advisories from IB and the State Intelligence wing have been pouring in directing the police to be on high alert.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF), which normally takes position two days prior to December 6, has already been deployed this year.
“We are going to deploy more than 600 of our men across the Old City. Twenty vehicles, including water-jet Vajra, would be stationed at vulnerable areas,” an RAF official said.
Alerts flashing from various agencies talk about a possible ‘backlash’ by the community in the wake of blasts in religious places.
On May 18, there was a blast in the Mecca Masjid. “Obviously, this time, the pressure is more on us and we are adequately prepared,” he added.
On the other hand, the Intelligence and Special Branch sleuths are trying to assess the ‘mood’ of people to know whether they are anticipating trouble on the ‘black day’.
This would be backed up by meeting peace committees, which played a key role in peace-keeping in the past.
Bomb disposal squads would scan the city in advance and nearly 9,000-strong city police and policemen from various districts would also be drafted for the security arrangements.
“We are getting over a 1,000 officers from other districts. This includes 15 DSPs, 20 Inspectors and 40 sub-inspectors.
We will have 12 platoons of AP Special Police, a few companies of RAF and 15 platoons of other paramilitary forces,” a senior police official said.
Frisking, checking of vehicles has already begun and pickets have been posted in sensitive areas.
When contacted, Additional Commissioner of Police (coordination) N V Surendra Babu reiterated that “the city police has always been on alert, not only after but even before the blasts rocked the State capital.”
Cops gear up to beat ‘Black Day’ blues
