Security arrangements reviewed
City Police Commissioner C.K. Gandhirajan on Saturday held a meeting of police officers to review the security arrangements in the city.It may be noted that the security measures were stepped up with effect from July 31 in the wake of the pronouncement of findings on August 1 by the Judge of the Special Court for Bomb Blast Cases, K. Uthirapathy, in respect of the 220 charges against the 166 accused in the Coimbatore serial blasts case of February 14, 1998.The city was brought under a tight security cordon for nearly 72 hours with a special focus on sensitive pockets. The court is scheduled to commence the hearing of the arguments on sentences by the defence counsel from Monday.On August 16, the Judge is expected to commence the pronouncement of verdict relating to convictions and sentences on nearly 153 accused who were found guilty of the charges against them.Hence, the police are planning to put in place the security arrangements once again beginning Sunday night and the same would be stepped up from August 13 in view of the Independence Day.The same level of security would continue for August 16 till the court completed the pronouncement of sentences in respect of all the accused.Four Deputy Commissioners of Police, two Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police, 16 Assistant Commissioners of Police and 30 Inspectors of Police attended the meeting.
The meeting also discussed the sensitive pockets and grey areas where the police should step up the focus.Congratulating the officers for the excellent security arrangements on August 1 with less inconvenience to the public, the Commissioner exhorted them to sustain the same measures from August 6 as well.He also asked the officers to concentrate more on vehicle checks, checks at bus stands, railway stations and lodges.Mr. Gandhirajan urged the City Intelligence Unit and the Special Investigation Cell to focus on trouble-prone pockets and mischief mongers.In the wake of good reports about the effectiveness of cycle patrolling in congested areas both from officers as well as from public,Mr. Gandhirajan said that the same would be extended to more areas by adding more bicycles.
