City’s security scene dismal

City’s security scene dismal
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Vehicles enter the court complex without being checked in Jammu on Friday; and (below) no security personnel deployed outside the bus stand. Tribune photos: Inderjeet Singh

Jammu, September 9
Though the Centre has sounded a nationwide alert in the wake of the blast outside the Delhi High Court, the security scenario here is dismal.

A visit to various public places, including the railway station, the bus stand and the court complex, by a Tribune team today exposed the poor security arrangements and lack of police preparedness.

At the railway platform, though there were a few barricades, no one stopped The Tribune team. The metal detector at the entrance to the station, which witnesses a large number of pilgrims and tourists from across the country, was also not being used.

“There is hardly any security. No one is paying any attention to unattended things. It seems the security forces are waiting for some untoward incident to happen to awaken them from their slumber,” said Harish Kumar, a resident of UP.

The situation was almost similar at the bus stand.Though a police post was established there recently, not a single policeman was found keeping vigil over visitors.The place has entry points from all the sides.

The security scene at the court complex was no better. Though a few barricades were installed at the entrance, vehicles were entering the area without being checked.

Though there were metal detectors and security personnel in and around the area, there was no checking. The complex has CCTV cameras.

Ashwani Kumar, an advocate, said : “It is an eyewash. Hardly any vehicle is being checked. What is the fun in deploying security personnel ? Senior police officers should visit the complex to see the reality.”

SSP, Jammu, Anand Jain, said: “We have deployed teams to review the security.So far, everything is under control and there is nothing to worry.”

Questioned about the lax security at the railway station, the bus stand and the court complex, he said: “If someone is found not performing the duty, he/she would be dealt with in accordance with the law. But, we have deployed jawans everywhere.”