Who will secure Nehru Place?

In a sensational revelation, after the arrest of terrorist who are said to
have planted bombs in the Delhi serial blasts, Delhi Police has claimed that
Nehru Place was on the radar of the terrorist. In a press conference, Delhi
Police officials had claimed that the suspected terrorists had planned to plant
almost 20 bombs in the biggest IT hub of Asia.

While the news had hit the headlines then, a few days later nothing seems to
have changed in the IT hub. The security is still non-existent with traders and
government bodies each wanting the other to take onus.

The market, which is considered one of the biggest IT hubs in Asia, houses
1,200 IT traders apart from offices of several vendors. So has the community in
the IT hub gotten worried about their safety?

While speaking about the measures that Delhi Police is taking to enhance
security at Nehru Place, Rakesh Paweriya, ACP, Kalkaji shared that after the
recent news of Nehru Place being on the target for terror activities, the police
department has become active and decided to install 29 closed circuit television
cameras in the market complex within a month.

Taking the oft-repeated stance of minimal resources Paweriya stated, “Delhi
Police alone cannot take all the actions. Government has got limited resources
and we have to deploy measures in that limit. Delhi Police is taking action but
the dealers also have to contribute in enhancing security. There are 98
buildings in the location and if each building owner installs at least two
cameras in their building, it will be of immense support for the police to track
suspicious activities,” he added.

What is surprising is that while the Delhi Police seems to be looking the
other way even dealers who are operating from the region are not very concerned
about their security. According to Paweriya as of now there no CCTV cameras have
been installed at Nehru Place by the Delhi Police, what is surprising is that
Nehru Place among others boasts of many players who deal in CCTV cameras and
surveillance products.

When DQ Channels spoke to channel partners on random basis in Nehru Place,
they accorded that while they have taken measures at their level and try to keep
an eye on the movements of visitors in their office premises but the
responsibility for mass surveillance should be with the government.

No one wants to take onus of securing the IT hub

Most dealers when contacted affirmed that while they have installed
surveillance in their shops to monitor customer and staff activity, none seem
bothered by the general area.

Harish Puri, CEO, Computer Empire shared that he installed CCTV cameras in 13
locations in his office six years back and any suspicious activities by
customers are tracked. “It is true that police alone cannot keep check on each
corner of Nehru Place and if dealers take measures on their own, it could be big
support to the govern­ment and for the safety of the channel itself,” shared
Puri.

However, none of them seem to be willing to track anything beyond their
perimeter of their individual establish­ments. This when the modus operandi in
the blasts that shook the country in the last few months clearly show that the
bombs were never planted in any shop or establishment premises but in open area
so as to cause maximum damage. When contacted about the initiative that the
associations are planning to take Saket Kapur, General Secretary, The
Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT) said that
while it is correct that Delhi Police may not deploy security measures at
extensive level but it is a matter of individual security and all building
owners, associations and channel partners should take efforts at their
respective level. “We have sent a mail to all the members of PCAIT and have
requested them to take the issue seriously and with individual capacity. Estate
agency and building owners have to play a vital role in this and they both can
make effort in tightening the security measures,” he said.

Kapur who is also the personal secretary of Vishal Bhawan Flat Owner and
Occupancy Welfare Association added, “Immediately after getting the news alert
of Nehru Place being targeted for terror attacks we held a meeting with estate
managers and Delhi Police and actions are now being taken. Electronic
surveillance equip­ment have been installed in Vishal Bhawan as the first
initiative,” informed Kapur.

Puneet Singhal, President, Computer Media Dealers Association (CMDA) added
that first initiative has to be taken by the government itself and then only all
the associations at Nehru Place whether they are in fabric exporter, computers
or real estate business can follow the action.

“There are many associa­tions at Nehru Place apart from the IT channel
partners, like of real estate dealers or cloth exporters. So, all have to come
ahead and take serious steps. There are not many members of CMDA in Nehru Place
but we will give all support to the associations existing there. The first kick
has to be given by Delhi Police and strong bodies there,” Singhal added.

One of the biggest IT vendors in India, Samsung India has its head-office at
Nehru Place. When contacted Sanjay Sharma, VP-IT Division, Samsung India,
informed that the government has not conveyed any message to the company for
seeking support and if required Samsung would provide possible support to Delhi
Police.

The police also held a meeting with Nehru Place Improve and Welfare
Association (NIWA) with the objective to sensitize the issue. It urged the
building owners in Nehru Place to tighten the safety measures in their
respective buildings and take safety measures at their own end.

Anil Kumar Sehgal, President, NIWA said, “Delhi Police held the meeting for
issues related to security concerns of Nehru Place. The objective was towards
filtering the crowd in the area they assured that squatters and local vendors
who have put unauthorized shops at pavements would be removed. Also, it is in
process of organizing mock drills in the premises of Nehru Place to take
measures when the instances of terror attack takes place.”

So clearly while everyone is expecting the government to take onus they are
not willing to take any steps to protect their own lives and businesses.

Amrita Tejasvi

Amritat@cybermedia.co.in