Hyderabad, August 07: The city police have asked the organisers of Ganesh pandals to be alert during the festival days to thwart any possible attempts of terror strikes.On its part, the police would be conducting checks at all the Ganesh making units in the city and every idol would be checked for possible explosives being planted while making.
Every visitor to the pandal should be properly frisked and get metal detectors installed at the entrance, police told the organisers at a security sensitisation programme on Thursday. Nearly 500 puja organisers attended the meet. DCP (Security) R B Naik said that all the religious places should follow minimum security measures keeping in view of the terror attacks at the Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat in 2007.
“All the religious places should have a cloak room to store bags, arrange security gadgets such as door frame and hand-held metal detectors at entry points and personnel or volunteers to frisk people entering places of worship,” he said.
The organisers of the pandals were given a list of dos and don’ts which include frisking of each and every person entering the premises, deployment of private security personnel and even having an emergency exit. The organisers were asked to be aware of abandoned articles or vehicles and if they found any such article, they should not touch it but inform the police immediately.
Volunteers should be engaged to observe and look for suspicious persons and objects as an anti-sabotage measure, the police officials said.
The pandals should have sufficient illumination inside and outside and emergency lights and generators should be kept ready in case of power failure. Similarly, portable fire extinguishers should be provided at the pandals.
The movement of people should be videographed wherever there is a huge gathering at Ganesh pandals.
Police have also asked the organisers not to use public address systems to alert the people during emergencies. The organisers were asked to inform the police, if they found anything suspicious.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
* Pandals should frisk each and every person entering the premises.
* Volunteers should be engaged in keeping a lookout for suspicious people and objects.
* Organisers told to arrange for emergency exits and portable fire extinguishers
–Agencies–