Lashker militants casts shadow on Gujarat police

Ahmedabad, Sept 21: With the arrest of four Lashker-e-Toiba militants just ahead of Navratri in the city, Gujarat police are not leaving anything to chance in major cities of the state including Vadodara and Rajkot and tight security measures are in place to counter any terror threat.

Close circuit cameras and sniffer dogs will be pressed into service at the garba venues to prevent untoward incidents during the nine-night long festivities, Mr Ashish Bhatia, Additional Police Commissioner, Ahmedabad said.

About 20 companies of Gujarat police have been deployed, along with the SRP and homeguards, he said. ''We may need two more companies,'' he added.

''Police forces will be deployed at several points in the city.

Mobile patrolling will be done to keep miscreants under check. We have already launched a campaign for checking vehicles in mornings and evenings,'' he told sources.

He said the organisers of commercial garbas have been told to have security personenel of their own. ''They will be responsible for traffic management and parking facilities. They will also have to provide closed circuit cameras at entry and exit points, of the venue.'' Two major clubs in the city - the Karnavati club and the Rajpath club - have taken their own preventive measures. ''We have already fitted the entrance and exit points with metal detectors and CCTVs.

Additional security personnel will be deployed during the garba programmes,'' said a Karnavati club functionary.

Various garba programmes are organised throughout the city at popular clubs, university and college grounds, party plots and stadia during the nine-night long festival, said to be world's longest festive extravaganza. ''We are taking all precautions and leaving nothing to chance. We will not give clearance for commercial garbas until all security requirements are met,'' said the police official.

The threat perception is believed to have increased, especially after the Crime Branch claimed to have busted a sleeper module of Lashker-e-Toiba with the arrest of four militant on Monday and Tuesday.

Though Rajkot is not the focal point of terror, yet the police here are not taking any chances. Police Inspector (Special branch) Sardarsinh Zala told sources that under the guidance of Police Commissioner K Nityanandanm, ''we have made unprecedented security arrangements for the nine-day festival.'' Security measures including using services of dog squads metal detectors and lady police officials have been put in place, Mr Zala said.

More than 300 police force, one company of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and 150 home guard forces are involved in beefing up security. Rajkot police is also setting up small units of strike force patrolling the streets which will be ready for any eventuality.

In Rajkot, 21 Arvachin Garbas and nearly 500 small and medium traditional garbas are being organised. Mr Zala said, ''We would not allow any organisataion to use loud speakers after the deadline of midnight.'' Vadodara City Police Commissioner Deepak Swaroop was optimistic that enough police personnel would be deployed to meet any eventuality. Eight companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) would help local police in maintaining law and order, all small and big garba organisers too have been asked to take adequate security measures in and around their venues, he said.

Since the threat perception on big garbas is quite high during Navratri, the police have identified at least 10 larger garba venues in the city for round-the-clock guard and ''anti-sobatage checking'' with the help of snifer dogs and bomb disposal squads.

Joint Commissioner of Police V M Pargi said as it was not possible to provide security at every garba venue in Vadadora, the major onus of security at these venues would lie with the organisers who have been sent specific quidelines on security measures.

Organisers of all major garbas have been asked to deploy trained private security personnel, install close-circut cameras, put up barricades and frisk each and every participant and visitor with door frame or hand held metal detectors, Mr Pargi said.

Besides, surveillance in the city has been stepped up and quick reaction teams put on alert to thrawt any possible terrorist attack, the sources said. Meanwhile, apprehending heavy rains and untoward incident, some of biggest organisers of the event like United Way of Baroda (UWB), United Arkee and Maa Shakti, have taken insurance cover ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore for public liability.

UWB executive director Sushama Oza said, ''We have taken all possible security measures as per the directive of the police commissioner and issued smart cards to boys participating in the event.'' Stating that about 25,000 boys and girls had already registered their names for participating in the garba, Ms Oza said they were expecting a daily crowd of nearly 50,000 to their venue.

And people of the flood-ravaged, Surat have something more than Laskher and terror to worry about. Unique MMS campaign for the young has been visualised by a group of socially committed artistes in Surat.

The five minute MMS tells the young, especially unsuspecting girls, also it of dangers of unprotected sex.

UNI