Free entry into markets. Cops posted at Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash M-Block, Sarojini Nagar and Janpath don't bother to frisk shoppers
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Where are the cops? Shoppers at Lajpat Nagar |
Police personnel posted at the major shopping centres of the Capital are least interested in frisking shoppers.
MiD DAY and Radio One visited a few busy markets Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash M Block, Sarojini Nagar and Janpath to get a first-hand experience of the security scenario. They found the arrangements far from satisfactory.
Lajpat Nagar
Lajpat Nagar, which is one of the most crowded markets of the city, has several entry points manned by baton bearing cops. But shoppers were allowed to enter unchecked. The door-mounted metal detectors at the entry points beeped every time a horde of shoppers passed through it, but no security man was vigilant enough to assure that every one was checked.
"You can see that guards hardly check people. Besides, how can we expect unarmed security men to fight terrorists carrying AK-47 and hand grenades?" asked Sanjay Rawat, a businessman at Lajpat Nagar.
GK, M-Block
The situation was worse at GK, M-Block, which was targeted three months back when serial bomb blasts rocked the Capital. None of its entry points were manned by cops and there was no police van in
the vicinity.
Sarojini, Janpath
Sarojini Nagar and Janpath, where people come for affordable shopping, too were devoid of required security preparedness. Though the entry points were barricaded but the cops standing there were busy in making chit-chat. "This market has no security. People enter unchecked," said Sangeeta Mehlwat, a 25-year-old engineer, who had come shopping.
