Heads could be rolling after the Mumbai terror strike with ministers being eased from their positions rather unceremoniously and the nation collectively mourning the tragedy but the role of citizens in averting such disasters has been sidelined, so far.
Security experts watching the terror replays on television wonder whether the impact of the strike would have been reduced, at least by a fraction, if there were more alert citizens like V D Zende (the CST announcer who repeatedly asked people not to get off the trains on seeing the terrorists fire indiscriminately).
While a security expert said that citizens need to be trained on reducing the “shock’’ when faced with such situations so that they can act with better presence of mind, many Hyderabadis in their own way are turning vigilant.
Take for instance, young entrepreneur, Amit Thakral. Each time he sees a car parked outside his office for too long he either goes out looking for the owner or picks up his phone to dial 100. Every packet lying unattended raises his eyebrows and any man wandering aimlessly makes him suspicious. Such has been the impact of the Mumbai terror strikes on this young Hyderabadi who, perhaps isn’t living in paranoia but, is definitely more cautious and observant post 26/11. “I still work from my office which is in a very crowded place, I can’t possibly stop doing that. But I keep my eyes and ears open all the time these days,” he says.
While the horrifying images of the three-day ‘war’ have made some people like Thakral more responsible citizens, it has brought back grim memories for others, who have been shaken up yet again and have decided that it is time they took matters into their hands. “The recent terror strikes reminded me of the 2007 blasts that rocked Hyderabad, and how even now I shiver when I walk into Lumbini Park or cross Gokul Chat,” says Vijay Marur, an ad filmmaker and theatre personality.
Dr M Mandal of Forum for a Better Hyderabad notes that while people readily point fingers at politicians or the police, they should first understand their duty in protecting themselves against terror. He will be holding an awareness meeting this week to ensure that more Hyderabadis are vigilant.
Marur, meanwhile, has decided to walk to the war memorial today, with several other like-minded citizens, and light a candle to pay homage to all those who lost their lives in the Mumbai terror attack, because he feels this is the first step towards bringing together people who can then fight against terror as a group. Perhaps he has realised that blaming the police and political parties alone for the lack of sincerity or accountability is no solution to the problem.
Active citizens such as VBJ Chelikani Rao say they are now asking people to be alert at all times. “At out senior citizens forum we have asked all morning walkers to keep looking around and report of any suspicious looking person or thing at the association office immediately. The association would then inform the police,” he says. Rao who is president of the United Forum of Residents’ Association feels that the lack of community-building is also an issue that needs to be addressed at this hour. “Most of us do not even know who our neighbours are. If we make some effort towards getting familiar with people living in our apartment or locality, it will help us identify strangers with wrong intentions in our area. This way we can also help the police in taking early action against them,” he says.
A chain e-mail that is doing the rounds these days appeals to the Prime Minister to take certain steps towards rooting out terror from the country. Similarly, a city-based NGO Roshan Vikas has floated a mail providing people with a platform to voice their concerns so that their silence is no more construed as an approval of the government’s laxity towards the issue of terrorism.
Though these groups know that it is the concerned authorities who have to finally do the needful, it is not stopping them for doing their bit to avoid such tragedies.
While Mazhar Hussain of COVA feels that we need to stop stereotyping people from different communities and put an end to acts of violence from making individuals more revengeful, Marur suggests that citizens should become more disciplined to check terror attacks.
“If we get onto an aircraft and are informed that because of a problem in the engine our flight will get delayed, we do crib but stay put because we do not want any trouble mid-air. Similarly, we should also not hesitate from getting ourselves and our baggage checked at places, where it is required, even if it causes a little inconvenience. It will only help us be more safe,” he says.
EYES AND EARS OF THE FORCE
Various citizen initiatives in Hyderabad and across the world have been instrumental in preventing terror attacks and riots. Here are some examples of how common people averted tragedies.
In 2002, after the Gujarat riots, the Mecca Masjid was buzzing with communal tension during the Friday evening prayers as the local Muslim youth held rallies and resorted to stone pelting. A group of women volunteers of COVA, a non-governmental organisation, led by Noorjahan Siddique mobilised women from both Hindu and Muslim communities and formed a human chain around Charminar. They successfully managed to not only subdue the agitated group but also prevent a possible confrontation between the police and the rioters which would have worsened the situation.
Vishnu Zende, an announcer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, was on duty on November 26 when he heard loud explosions and sounds of gunfire. He saw people running in all directions through his cabin glass. Zende held his nerve and announced instructions to the commuters telling them where to exit from and cautioning the people inside incoming trains against getting off the train. Not only did Zende save a number of lives but also avoided a stampede by calmly repeating announcements till the platform was empty. In return Zende was greeted by a shower of bullets fired at his cabin by the terrorists but managed to escape unhurt.
Kundan and Krishna, rag-pickers in New Delhi saved many lives in the September blasts. The death toll in the city would have been much higher if the duo hadn’t done their bit to help the police. As news of the bomb attacks spread, 30-year-old Kundan, who was near Regal theatre in Connaught Place noticed a bomb inside a garbage bin. He immediately alerted the beat constable, who in turn informed the bomb disposal squad. Kundan and his friend Krishna saved dozens of lives that eventful Saturday. Both are part of the Delhi police’s Eyes and Ears scheme, which includes rag-pickers, roadside vendors, rickshawwallahs among others. All of them are meant to keep the police informed of suspicious activity in the areas they live and work
And some police initiatives
The Hyderabad Police has undertaken several initiatives to increase public awareness regarding terror attacks. Anti-terror caller tunes, hoardings, terror alert messages and anti-terror movies and audio CDs are some of the measures proposed to enlist public participation in fighting terror. Apart from these the website of the Hyderabad city police, http://hyderabadpolice.gov.in, has a special section on fighting terror which alerts citizens regarding how to identify potential terror attacks, prepare for such emergencies and inform the police regarding the same
The Delhi police launched its ‘Eyes and Ears’ scheme early this year to fight crime with the help of public informers. In order to do so, the police have briefed the general public to keep their “eyes and ears” open in order to detect crime and serve as informers to the police. According to the Delhi police the scheme has met with success and helped in solving several cases of murder and theft so far
FIRST MOVES
- Citizens turn vigilant; inform police on seeing anything suspicious
- Resident Welfare Associations ask people to know their neighbours
- NGOs ask people to cooperate with security checks, even if they are cumbersome
- People trying to ensure that violence doesn’t make individuals revengeful
Corporates press safety button
India Inc steps up security even as one firm goes a step beyond, launches website to build pressure on the government to tackle terror seriously.
Two days ago in Bangalore, a meeting between corporate heads and the government saw the enraged industrialists asking for permission to possess private weapons to fight a potential terror attack. While that is a decision the government may not be keen on, these corporate firms now comprehend that routine door security checks are just not enough. Soon after the Mumbai terror strike last week, both corporate and government establishments have started strengthening security arrangements on their campuses.
Infosys, that has made the demand for armed security, justifies it by saying that the company cannot protect its people in case of an attack such as the one in Mumbai since the government does not allow private agencies providing security to the private sector to carry arms. “In the event of an armed attack this security personnel will be helpless. We believe that these private security agencies can be an additional source of strength and security to the state and they should be given licenses to bear arms. They can be the first line of defense in a crisis and will enable multiple layers of security,’’ said T V Mohandas Pai, director, HR, Infosys.
Many other firms too are going beyond security checks at their doors. While firms such as TCS told this newspaper that they were wary of divulging security arrangement details, others like Satyam restricted themselves to mention the heightened security at all its locations, and as an added precaution, reviewing its security processes in the light of last week’s events. This, they say, is to ensure the safety of its associates and for the protection of its property and customers’ data.
Firms such as Genpact have now roped in international security experts for terror insulation. “We have heightened perimeter security and site security with rigorous checks at all our entry and exit points. In the light of the recent terror attacks we are further augmenting our security infrastructure besides seeking advice from international security experts,’’ says Shekhar Sharma, senior vice president, infrastructure & logistics, Genpact.
The state tourism department will also give security at tourism spots a face-lift by adding more `tourism police’ personnel, who will be undergoing a rigorous training program combat any terror attack. “We have also written a letter to the director general of police for increased security in crowded and sensitive tourist areas like Tirupati, Srisailam and others,” says Gottipati Sujata, joint director of tourism department, AP.
Meanwhile, other IT firms are restricting entry into their campuses. “While no one is allowed inside our campus without identity cards, we are now even restricting areas frequented by guests,’’ says a senior official of an IT firm, that is also introducing police patrol on the campus.
That these added security measures are only an added burden to the firm’s finances especially during such slowdown times, corporate heads say they have no option. However, some firms are going beyond stepped up security arrangements, thinking like conscientious citizens and not just a corporate house .
Intense Tech, a listed IT firm, for instance, will be launching a website as a collective voice to push the government into tackling this terror problem seriously. “The website will not only create awareness among people against becoming a victim to terrorism but will also keep this wave of anger alive. Otherwise people forget such tragedies however terrible and move on with their lives,” says CK Shastri, the company’s managing director adding that the firm is also starting a newsletter to send this anti-terror message across to everybody.
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