Independence Day: Security stepped up in Hyderabad, Sukkur

35 locations in Hyderabad declared sensitive

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD: The police departments in Hyderabad and Sukkur have taken a number of measures to step up security in their jurisdictions for Independence Day celebrations on Sunday (today).

Hyderabad police have declared 35 locations in the city sensitive. Police spokesperson Mazhar Shani informed through a press release that special pickets manned by the Rangers are being set up at these sensitive places.

According to Shani, more than 75 posts, manned by the Rangers and police for providing security to the rallies and events, have been established while some 2,200 policemen are being deployed, including several police commandoes.

Hyderabad DIG and SSP did not respond to queries about the security details. ASP Suhai Aziz Talpur, who has been given the charge of SP Headquarters as well as the charge of the August 14 security arrangements, termed details about the sensitive locations as 'confidential'.

In her SMS reply, she declined to explain why some sites have been declared sensitive. On August 13, 2013, an explosive device was hurled at a stall at Hyder Chowk. The attack, claimed by a banned nationalist outfit, claimed the life of a young man.

Dozens of rallies and a still larger number of celebratory events are scheduled to take place today. Meanwhile, thousands of stalls selling flags, banners, streamers, badges and buntings have sprung up in almost every nook and corner of the district.

Proactive officials

Meanwhile, Sukkur SSP Amjad Ahmed Shaikh ordered all the DSPs and SHOs of the district to remain in their respective areas on Saturday and Sunday and intensify patrolling and routine checking to avert any untoward incident. He further stressed that security at entry and exit points of the city be stepped up.

He issued these directives while chairing a meeting with the DSPs and SHOs of the district. He ordered them to deploy a heavy contingent of police at the entry and exit points of the city and to not allow anyone to enter the city without thorough checking.

Later, talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Shaikh said all the precautionary measures are being taken to provide a sense of security to the citizens. "I have ordered all the DSPs to be vigilant about security measures and to deploy police commandos and plainclothes officials at railway stations, bus terminals, hotels, guest houses, public parks and eateries to avoid any mishap," he said. Besides this, police posts have been established at 40 sensitive points to provide security to the rallies that will be held to mark Independence Day, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2016.