Security cover in Ahmedabad has been thickened after the July 26 serial blasts. This has made life in the city a little inconvenient for the denizens. People are now being frisked at the malls, hospitals, and even educational institutions: something they are not accustomed to. Pratik Ved, a second-year post-graduate student at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), said: “Quite suddenly, life on the campus has changed. Security has been tightened after the blasts. We are asked to keep our identity cards with us both inside and outside the campus.” Aditi Gupta at the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship in IIM-A is rather apprehensive about the security arrangements. “How does one fight these faceless enemies? The security has been tightened for now, but later when it is relaxed, anyone can sneak in very easily and wreak havoc,” she said. Amitabh Adhikari, a research associate with the National Institute of Design (NID) told The Indian Express: “They (security guards) are more concerned and cautious in the event of a perceived threat.” Security guards are equipped with metal detectors to ensure checking at the gates. An NID student said on condition of anonymity: “The guards know me well, and yet we have to undergo checks at the gate every time we come in or go out.”Unmesh Dixit, PRO, Delhi Public School said: “Recent incidents have changed things a lot. Now, we are more cautious and concerned about the safety of the kids in our school.” He added: “We never thought of installing Closed Circuit Television cameras in our school; but now we might consider such a move.”Security at hospitals has also been stepped up. Nihalchand Chulasan, uncle of one Sundar Das who was injured in the blasts, finds it a bit uncomfortable when he is frisked at the Civil Hospital.“I am the only relative of Sundar in Ahmedabad. I think twice before going out of the hospital to get something, as it takes me extra time to make it back to the ward. The checking delays everything,” said Chulasan.Prerna Arora, a BBA student at the HL College, said, “We were always asked to bring our identity cards to the college; but now, a person can enter only after a complete check.”
