Special teams to guard heritage sites

HYDERABAD: Three months ago, a blast at Mecca Masjid not only destroyed the 'wonder bench' there, but also exposed the mosque's vulnerability.
Akin to the country's second largest mosque, Hyderabad is home to a number of historic structures. In the wake of the twin blasts, though experts feel that the monuments are not under any threat, they fear that crowds frequenting these places may be targeted.Therefore, the police are doing what they can to ensure that the Mecca Masjid episode does not repeat itself.
Patrolling has been stepped up and the security wing has posted anti-sabotage teams. Amit Garg, joint commissioner of police, Special Branch, says that apart from CISF forces that have always been posted at places such as Salarjung Museum, 100 checking parties have been constituted, for all places of worship and any important installation.
Fifty of the special teams will operate during the day and the rest, at night. Anti-sabotage teams will be equipped with mine sweepers and sniffer dogs. Door-fixed metal detectors and hand-fixed metal detectors are also on the anvil.
At Charminar and Golconda Fort that come under the Archaeological Survey of India's purview, apart from frisking, the number of security guards will also be increased, says Jithendra Das, SP, archaeology. Also, people will have to leave their bags behind if they want to see the Charminar.
However, the question of posting state policemen does not arise, clarifies Das. "Unless it is an emergency, no state cops will be posted at monuments that come under ASI."
As far as places of tourist attraction that come under the state's purview are concerned, tourism director K V Reddy says that an audit has begun and steps are on to step up security near heritage structures. Internal checking will also intensify, he adds.
At Nagarjuna Sagar, Lumbini park and boating sites, apart from metal detectors, a locker system has been mooted wherein people will be asked to leave their bags before a show, says Raymond Peter, chairman of Andhra Pradesh state tourism. "We're also trying to rope in private security agencies to step up security.''
So, are monuments likely targets? Veda Kumar, convener of Forum for Better Hyderabad, feels that as of now, there is no immediate threat. "Even in the case of the Mecca Masjid, the people who had gathered for prayers were targeted," he says.
The city's conservation activists echo Veda Kumar's view. Adds Sajaat Shahid: "Since the aim is to destabilise and incite people, monuments become secondary. Therefore, it is the crowded areas that are possible targets, as the recent twin blasts have proved. That it happens to be a heritage structure may just be a coincidence."
Many others believe that crowded places are targeted not only because they are easy to access, but also because they are easy to escape.
According to Garg: "Terrorists always target crowds and places that are well-known because then, it catches the world's attention. Also, in a crowd, they not only have easy access, they can become a part of the crowd, complete their task and escape, without being noticed."
Historian Narendra Luther opines that the aim is to not only to make the entire thing dramatic, but also to scare people. Despite the blasts, historians and conservation activists only hope that monuments are not targeted. Sums up Anuradha Reddy, Intach member: "Monuments are innate and works of art, therefore, they should be left untouched."