No restraint by the media

Hotel under ODI scanner
A STAFF REPORTER

Police have asked the Taj Bengal management to step up security during the scheduled stay of the Indian and Sri Lankan cricket teams for the December 24 ODI at Eden Gardens.

At a recent meeting, the police told the officials overseeing security at the Alipore hospitality address to deploy all their 16 guards at some of the strategic points in the compound as well as outside. Guards of private agencies hired by the hotel have been asked to wear their identity cards.

The footage of the closed-circuit cameras will be monitored round-the-clock in a designated control room on the premises. The guards who will monitor the footage have been asked to report any suspicious movement to the authorities and note down his observations in a register.

“The security advisory has been explained to officials responsible for the hotel’s security,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar.

The guards have also been asked to check and maintain a record of all vehicles, including two-wheelers, that are parked in the parking lot adjacent to the main entrance.

Guard rails have been installed in the parking lot to streamline the flow of vehicles and the hotel authorities have been asked to increase the number of guard in the lot from one to two.

“The guards have been also asked to frisk anyone walking into the hotel compound. We have also asked them to place door-frame metal detectors two feet outside the three main gates,” said another officer.

Last week, police commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarti had expressed concern over security at the stadium during a meeting with office-bearers of the Cricket Association of Bengal. While inspecting the stadium, the police chief is learnt to have said that the focus during the ODI would be on both “technical and physical security”.


It seems our police have not lost the habit on opening their mouths, when they shouldn't.
Yes, they have found out there is a possibility of an attack.
But does that mean they have to broadcast it all over.
Those who were planning it now will just postpone it to a more opportune time when the police are not vigilant.
Can't they work like the FBI or the European police who work quietly and follow their target until they are ready with all the evidence and then they just swoop down on them.
The police could have just as quietly informed the hotel to be vigilante and improve their security.
They could have told them to do quietly what they are now doing with nobody aware of the increased security so that when the criminals attacked, they were ready.
What are the police doing?
They are just warning the criminals so that they are not captured.
The press and media is also equally irresponsible.
Why do they have to delve into the matters of security and broadcast what the police are doing.
The media did that on 26/11 with devastating results for our security forces, many of whom may have been killed just because of TV pictures showing the position of our forces.
Can't they allow the police to work quietly to do their work?
Have they always to be the first to give the news? They call it EXCLUSIVE.
The media had assured of self censorship after 26/11.
It seems they haven't learnt or do not want to learn.
I suggest that the government go ahead with its censorship plans without waiting for the media to do it.