After Gurdaspur attack, high alert in Tricity

Even though there was a high security alert in Chandigarh following the terror attack at Dinanagar in Gurdaspur, chinks in the city preparedness were visible. Around 9 am, a team comprising bomb disposal squad of Chandigarh Police, Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police with sniffer dogs and bomb detection equipment combed the Chandigarh railway station premises. Trains, railway parcel, luggage and the parking lots were checked thoroughly. The metal detector installed at the entrance was non-functional. In fact, the entrance to the station is unrestricted and easy. There are no checks even if someone enters the station without a platform ticket. Beggars and destitute are seen on the platforms. Moreover, most vulnerable is the entry from Panchkula side where no security arrangements are in place. Even a baggage scanner is not at the station. The Railway Protection Force, Railway Administration and Government Railway Police are jointly responsible for the safety of passengers. At the bus stand in Sector 17, a large number of policemen had been deployed since morning to inspect the passengers boarding and deboarding buses. But no such checks were being conducted on others coming to the bus stand through its numerous unmanned entry and exit points. The police at Sector 43 bus stand were checking passengers. Police officials were seen stopping all the buses entering the bus stop and inspecting passengers’ luggage. Speaking to Newsline, DSP (law and order) Roshan Lal said, “Around 600 personnel of Chandigarh Police, Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force and Rapid Action Force were on duty in shifts of at least eight hours. Personnel of the mounted force and Indian Reserve Battalion were also summoned.” “Barriers and police checkpoints were put across all major entry and exit points of the city. Special security checks were conducted at the airport, railway station and the two ISBTs to to foil any form of security attack,” the DSP added. Panchkula Security was beefed up in Panchkula following the terrorist attack. Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumar Dhawan said, “We had sealed the town, and stepped up security at all the entry points in Panchkula. The local bus stands were checked thoroughly, and police force was deployed at various sensitive places to check the vehicles. The police were alerted in the morning, and regular patrolling was done.” Mohali Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, “The entire force has been put on alert and check points have been placed outside all major points across the city. We are also co-ordinating with neighbouring police departments to make sure all entry and exit points near the border areas are under heavy security. We have also urged people to come forward in case they see an unusual person or any unidentified object.”