Security stepped up in IT hub

The police officials said that the Pune growth story has been attributed to the growth of IT industry and terrorists may plot attacks to malign the image of the city,as an investment destination.

Mahesh Patil,Deputy Commissioner of Police,Zone 3,“In the past few months,we have been receiving terror alerts on a regular basis though without any specific input. Security was tightened in the last week of January following the terror alert in the background of Republic Day. All hotels and IT companies were given security instructions. Now,a quick response team (QRT) has been stationed at Hinjewadi to meet any emergencies that may arise. We now are carrying checks of lodges,hotels and tenants residing in the city.”

Patil said that since they have held meetings with second-hand car dealers asking them to ensure the identity of the person before any transactions. Cyber cafés in the city have been instructed to take down the details of before allowing anyone inside. IT companies have been asked to appoint armed guards,install doorframe metal detectors.

Pratap Dighvkar,superitendent of police,Pune rural,said a major search operations were in progress in fringe areas of the city — Wadgaon,Undri,Pisoli and Kondhwa — following the blast. Security at all vital installations in rural Pune has been increased.

“The police had been receiving terror alerts in the past two months following which extensive combing operations were carried out in rural areas to ensure that terrorists do not get to reside here.

Since the blast,police teams are on job collating information on all tenants in rural Pune. The details of all ISD called made from rural Pune are also being collected.”

Dighavkar said that all hotels in Lonavala are being checked and information collected on recent visitors.

Police have given instructions to:
* IT firms
* Cyber cafes
* Lodges/hotels
* Second-hand car dealers
* Houseowners in rural Pune