Ranchi, July 14: More of caution but less of action.
DGP G.S. Rath may have sounded an alert across the state, moments after yesterday's serial blasts in Mumbai, directing policemen in all 24 districts to beef up security. But his alarm had no impact in the state capital as most of the landmarks remained porous like any other day.
At Project Building, the administrative block that is always a beehive of activity, everyone had free access. This despite entry curbs supposedly introduced from July 1.
Security at the airport was tight as officials ensured proper frisking before allowing passengers inside the terminal. But at other public places like Ranchi railway station, bus stands, busy markets like Upper Bazar, GEL Church Complex and Kutchery Chowk, it was business as usual.
"No one will plant a bomb here. This isn't Mumbai or Delhi. It is Jharkhand where Maoists rule. Terrorists also fear them," a guard at the main gate of Project Building said. His attitude said it all.
At the main station, both entry gates were unmanned. There were no metal detectors, nor were there police personnel checking passengers.
"The metal detectors are out of order for quite some time. They are under repair," a railway official confided.
At Albert Ekka Chowk there was a brief moment of panic when a few photographers gathered around what they claimed was a piece of unclaimed luggage and started clicking pictures. "Hum kya kaare saab. Yeh presswaale aake bag latka ke photo khich ke chale jaate hain. (What can I do? Some Press people come, take pictures and leave," a traffic constable at Sarjana Chowk told a local television channel about the scare that wasn't.
Jharkhand may not have seen terror strikes, but police are aware that its territories are often used by banned outfits to shelter their men. SIMI boss Abu Faizal had bought a two-storey house at Zakirnagar in Jamshedpur's Mango, and was living there until his cover was blown last month.
Within 10 days of his arrest, Danish Riyaz, a software engineer, was apprehended from Ranchi's Bariatu by Gujarat police for his alleged role in the July 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts.
Godda and Hazaribagh have also figured in police reports about terrorist safe havens.
"A high alert doesn't mean it's only for police. It is also for civilians who must inform us even at the slightest suspicion," DGP Rath said.
Nothing could be ruled out, he said, but added that his men were prepared and vigilant.
Mumbai victim
Vishnukant Pandey, a resident of Adityapur, near Jamshedpur, was killed in Wednesday's Mumbai blasts. His body arrived at Calcutta airport on an Air India flight at 10.10pm today. Airport sources said the coffin was lying in the cargo department and his kin are yet to arrive.
nPolice widen CCTV radar on temple, Page 15
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