High alert sounded,security stepped up at courts across country

A nationwide alert was sounded and security stepped up at courts and public places across the country following the blast at the Delhi High Court.

A nationwide alert was sounded and security stepped up at courts and public places across the country following the blast at the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. All states have been asked to take precautionary measures and step up vigil in the wake of the blast,said Home Ministry officials.

As the alert was sounded,police personnel combed court premises in several cities and many states held security reviews to beef up arrangements at public places and public transport systems.

In Mumbai,which had been hit by serial blasts in July,Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan called a high-level meeting and reviewed the security at the Bombay High Court. Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria and Commissioner of State Intelligence Department K L Prasad were present at the meeting.

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Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said additional measures were in the pipeline to bolster security at the Bombay High Court. I went to the Bombay High Court and reviewed the security arrangement, he said,adding that police checking will be increased at entry and exit points in the city.

Due to the ongoing Ganesh festival,a strict vigil is already being maintained,he said,adding,I appeal to Mumbaikars to stay on alert. In Pune too,security was further tightened at pandals.

In Kolkata,Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said a red alert has been sounded across the state. Security at all vital installations including the Metro Railway,Writers Building,Howrah and Sealdah railway stations were beefed up.

Checking and frisking of passengers has been intensified and sniffer dogs have been pressed into service, said Pratyush Ghosh,spokesperson for Metro Railway.

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Members of the Bar Association of the Calcutta High Court met Chief Justice Jaynarayan Patel and expressed concern about security at the court. Bhaskar Prasad Baishya,general secretary of the Bar Association,said the Chief Justice assured that High Court officials would discuss the issue with the Kolkata Police.

In Lucknow,Special Director General of Police Brij Lal said authorities in all districts have been asked to step up vigil. Superintendent of Police,Allahabad City,Subhash Baghel,said,Security has been beefed up at the Allahabad High Court and the district court where Quick Response Teams and police personnel have been deployed to tackle any emergency situation.

A close watch is being kept on people visiting the court premises and they were being allowed entry only upon producing passes issued to lawyers and litigants by the court authorities after thorough frisking,the SP said.

In Patna,additional forces were deployed at vital installations including Patna High Court,Secretariat,government buildings,railway stations and religious places. Patna High Court lawyers completely boycotted work demanding adequate security deployment.

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Patna Bar Association member MP Gupta said: We have also demanded provision to give us life insurance in event of any untoward incidents.

DGP Abhyanand said the police in all districts had been asked to beef up security at courts and other public places drawing big crowds.

In Chennai,a high alert was sounded and precautionary measures put in place,a top police official said. We have taken all precautionary measures and put our force on high alert, Police Commissioner J K Tripathy said. Security has been beefed up in public places such as railway stations,airport,bus terminals and other important places,police said.