Hoaxes, high alert, Hyderabad

Hyderabad is still reeling under the aftermath of the Mecca Masjid blast, and a barrage of hoax calls are making matters worse.Hyderabad is still reeling under the aftermath of the Mecca Masjid blast, and a barrage of hoax calls are making matters worse. The city has doubled up its security, and the police are on high alert. Joint commissioner, security and coordination, Rajiv Ratan says, "We have been responding to each and every call that we receive with heightened seriousness."
Routine and surprise checks, bomb squad operations, sniffer dogs, camera vigilance, more security personnel, and even exigency protocols and a whole gamut of other precautions are being taken to diffuse bomb scares.Rajiv Ratan adds, "The government, classifies security into two categories - visible and invisible. To keep miscreants at bay, we will not disclose invisible security measures that the state has equipped itself with."
Malls, multiplexes, IT parks, the airport and even railway stations are more vigilant to any suspicious happenings in the city.
At the airport
"The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has tagged the Hyderabad Airport to be among the hyper-sensitive ones of the country; others being in places like the North East, and Jammu and Kashmir. In fact, Hyderabad's been on that list for over a year now. With regards to the recent bomb scare, we just wrapped up a meeting on the security measures we're going to adapt to," explains CG Raveendran Joint General Manager and Acting Airport Director, Hyderabad airport .
At the railway station
Since the Mumbai train blasts earlier last year, railway stations in the city have been on alert. There are more protection officers at the stations as well as at the train terminals . There's a surprise check every day, as well. And there are more print and electronic advertisements cautioning the public to be careful. Plus, it's now mandatory for passengers to seal parcels being sent via rail at the station in the presence of an officer. "We've beefed up security since the Mumbai blasts. And we're not just concerned about the city's stations - our focus encompasses the entire state as every station is vulnerable. Tirupati, Vijayawada, Nizamabad could also be targets," explains P Krishnaiah, chief public relations officer for South Central Railways.
At multiplexes and malls
"Hyderabad is considered to be one of the safest cities in the country , and that image of the city will not be shattered because of the recent blasts," remarks CV Rao, manager operations for a noted mall in the city. But that doesn't mean that they are slack about their security system in place. These public places have exigency protocols for emergencies . The staff is specially trained. Vasantha Prasad, general manager of a multiplex in the city says, "We had been concerned about security even before the blasts and the recent scares. And what's heartening is that the public has been very cooperative. Doorframe metal detectors, CCTVs, security personnel , mufti, and other measures have been incorporated into our regular security checks. After every show, the entire theatre is checked thoroughly." The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has tagged the 'Hyderabad Airport to be among the hyper-sensitive ones of the country
CG Raveendran Joint general manager & acting director, Hyderabad airport
We have been responding to each and every call that we receive with heightened seriousness
Rajiv Ratan, joint commissioner, security and coordination