Diwali is only two days away and city markets are packed with shoppers. But shopowners - the memories of the 2005
serial blasts just before the festival still fresh in their minds - are
worried about the unsatisfactory security measures at city markets,
including the Sarojini Nagar market that bore the brunt of the 2005
attack.
Unhappy with the security measures taken by the Delhi Police markets such as Lajpat Nagar, targeted by terrorists in 1996, and Connaught Place have hired private security agencies for the shopping season. "Though the police have assured stringent security measures, shopowners in several blocks at Connaught Place want to be doubly sure of the security and have hired private security guards for the festival season," said Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders' Association.
Shopkeepers at the Lajpat Nagar market, where terrorists triggered an explosion that killed 13 people and injured 39 others in 1996, has also hired private security guards. While the gates of the market are manned by the police with door frame metal detectors and policemen on watchtowers keep an eye on visitors, the market association has deployed teams of two to three guards in every block.
"We
have spoken to police officers and demanded better security as the
Lajpat Nagar market has already been targeted by terrorists in the past.
We have also told them about our plan to deploy private guards to
strengthen the security of the place," said K.S. Baxi, president of the
Lajpat Nagar Traders' Association. It was right outside his shop where
the bomb went off in 1996.
Shopowners at the upmarket Khan Market, often called India's Fifth Avenue and a favourite shopping destination of the city's well-heeled, too have hired four private security guards to assist the constables deployed by the Delhi Police.
In some areas of the market, police have asked shopkeepers not to display or sell wares outside their shops, annoying the traders who say this was affecting footfall. "This is a market that is guarded at all times by 12 head constables and an equal number of constables of the Delhi Police. I don't understand the reason for asking us to not display goods outside," said Sanjiv Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders' Association.
The
security measures taken by the police at city markets are the usual
installation of door frame metal detectors and deployment of policemen
at the gates who frisk visitors with hand-held scanners.
CCTV cameras have been installed at only 28 of the hundreds of markets in the city. Security measures are almost non-existent at Sarojini Nagar, which bore the brunt of the explosions during the October 29, 2005, serial blasts in Delhi. Seven years later, the market remains as vulnerable.
The market is open on all sides unlike other markets in NDMC areas, which have permanent boundary walls. Only one gate has a door frame metal detector. A shopowner said the market association had hired 20 private guards but they were sacked following police pressure.
Traders have complained to the NDMC and the police several times about the lack of a permanent boundary wall. "About 700 hawkers enter the market, sell their goods and leave at their own sweet will," said Ashok Randhawa, president of the Sarojini Nagar Mini-market Association.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhis-sarojini-nagar-market-braces-up-for-diwali-amid-high-level-security-arrangements/1/228662.html
Unhappy with the security measures taken by the Delhi Police markets such as Lajpat Nagar, targeted by terrorists in 1996, and Connaught Place have hired private security agencies for the shopping season. "Though the police have assured stringent security measures, shopowners in several blocks at Connaught Place want to be doubly sure of the security and have hired private security guards for the festival season," said Atul Bhargava, president of the New Delhi Traders' Association.
Shopkeepers at the Lajpat Nagar market, where terrorists triggered an explosion that killed 13 people and injured 39 others in 1996, has also hired private security guards. While the gates of the market are manned by the police with door frame metal detectors and policemen on watchtowers keep an eye on visitors, the market association has deployed teams of two to three guards in every block.
Shopowners at the upmarket Khan Market, often called India's Fifth Avenue and a favourite shopping destination of the city's well-heeled, too have hired four private security guards to assist the constables deployed by the Delhi Police.
In some areas of the market, police have asked shopkeepers not to display or sell wares outside their shops, annoying the traders who say this was affecting footfall. "This is a market that is guarded at all times by 12 head constables and an equal number of constables of the Delhi Police. I don't understand the reason for asking us to not display goods outside," said Sanjiv Mehra, president of the Khan Market Traders' Association.
CCTV cameras have been installed at only 28 of the hundreds of markets in the city. Security measures are almost non-existent at Sarojini Nagar, which bore the brunt of the explosions during the October 29, 2005, serial blasts in Delhi. Seven years later, the market remains as vulnerable.
The market is open on all sides unlike other markets in NDMC areas, which have permanent boundary walls. Only one gate has a door frame metal detector. A shopowner said the market association had hired 20 private guards but they were sacked following police pressure.
Traders have complained to the NDMC and the police several times about the lack of a permanent boundary wall. "About 700 hawkers enter the market, sell their goods and leave at their own sweet will," said Ashok Randhawa, president of the Sarojini Nagar Mini-market Association.
Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/delhis-sarojini-nagar-market-braces-up-for-diwali-amid-high-level-security-arrangements/1/228662.html
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