Mock drill exposes loopholes in Vidhan Bhavan security
LUCKNOW: Several loopholes were detected in the Vidhan Bhavan security during a joint mock drill conducted by security and intelligence agencies here on Sunday.
After the high-potential plastic explosive powder PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) was found below the cushion of a Samajwadi Party MLA’s seat on July 12, the secretariat administration strengthened security but senior police and intelligence officers were not satisfied with the measures taken.
Additional director general of police (Lucknow zone) Abhay Kumar Prasad said the loopholes in the Vidhan Bhavan security will be plugged. There was need for better use of technology, strengthening human resource and improving security procedures, he said. Owing to security reasons, he refused to speak about the shortcomings found during the drill.
Inspector general, Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Asim Arun said, “The mock drill was conducted to identify the shortcomings in the Vidhan Bhavan security. The workplan of the Vidhan Bhavan will be prepared on the basis of the outcomes of the mock drill.”
The drill started at 2pm after the Vidhan Bhavan security officer ‘revealed’ that two unclaimed bags, suspected to be packed with explosives, were lying in the Vidhan Bhavan premises. While one bag was found near the State Bank of India branch on the ground floor, the second bag was on the first floor.
The ATS commandos, civil police, intelligence sleuths, bomb disposal squad, sniffer dogs, and assembly security personnel swung into action. A medical team arrived in an ambulance.
The Vidhan Bhavan building was cordoned off as ATS commandos and the quick reaction team took position. The bomb disposal squad started the ‘operation’ to deactivate the ‘explosive material’. A fire tender moved into the premises
The operation continued for one and a half hours with senior police officers monitoring it from the control room at the Vidhan Bhavan. Some ATS commandos stuck in the Vidhan Bhavan gallery were guided by the assembly security staff.
The reaction time of the security team and shortcomings in the operation were recorded.
The ADG (Lucknow zone) said the IG ATS will submit a detailed report of the mock drill and his suggestions will be included in the work plan.
“We will prepare a long-term security plan on the pattern of Parliament security as well as a short-term plan to tighten vigil,” he said.
COMMISSIONER, IG DENIED ENTRY
Security personnel did not permit Lucknow divisional commissioner Anil Garg and the inspector general of police (Lucknow) Jai Narain Singh to enter Vidhan Bhavan during the mock drill as they were not carrying their entry passes.
Though Singh told the security staff that he was IG Lucknow, they said they had strict instructions not to permit anyone’s entry without an authorised pass. The staff of the officers tried to convince the security personnel but they turned down their request. “Come with the entry pass and we will open the gate,” the security officer said.
BJP MLA from Meerut Satya Prakash Agarwal also had a tough time to convincing the security personnel. He wished to enter with his staff, but the security officer told him that he could enter the premises with his driver but other persons would have to wait outside the gate. Agarwal was allowed entry only when he agreed to this condition. Giving leeway LUCKNOW: Vidhan Bhavan security personnel gave entry to 19 MLAs and MLCs on Friday even when they failed to produce entry pass. Some prominent lawmakers who were given entry included Satish Mahana, Suresh Rana (both ministers), Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya and Naseemuddin Siddiqui. A security officer said in the morning the speaker had ordered implementation for the strict security measures.
“Since it was the first day of the order being implemented, we permitted the ninisters, MLAs and MLCs to enter the high security area,” he said.