Newindpress

Bangalore, Sep 10: Visible signs of increased security mark the beginning of festival season as several places around the city have begun to show signs of a security conscious place.

After the recent Hyderabad bomb blasts and the Intelligence Bureau alerts to the Southern States, the city might see a slightly sober festival season this year.

The police department has been making efforts to sensitise people at places of worship to potential problems. Sources at the police department say that they are identifying popular eateries, shopping areas and malls and instructing them to arrange private security staff and install door frame metal detectors and use hand held metal detectors as well.

Dog squads will be pushed into service at important places. Cops are also meeting up with people organising Ganesha festivities and advising them on following basic precautions while appointing volunteers. These groups have also been asked to stay alert and look out for suspicious objects .

Since most temples, mosques and churches will be packed to capacity during the coming months owing to festivals, security will be enhanced at these places and constables will be posted at these locations and at places where the movement of people will be higher like market places.

An unintended beneficiary of this measure could be petty criminals who can escape the eye of the policemen as the focus during the coming months will be on security rather than on crime.

Theatres have been asked to screen slides at the beginning and the interval of movies warning people about being careful and informing the authorities if they notice suspicious objects.

Public congregations will receive more attention as policemen will be posted for security. Meanwhile malls have been instructed to install metal detectors not just at the main entrances but at the side entrances as well.

Additional Commissioner of Police Bipin Gopalkrishna said that the Police Department would be meeting on Tuesday to discuss all aspects of security and measures to be undertaken during the coming festival season.