Heighten vigil, cops tell hotels, religious heads

Lanka Terror Attacks: Hoteliers asked to install metal detectors, barricades to frisk visitors

Mysuru: In the wake of serial blasts in Sri Lanka, the city Police yesterday conducted separate meetings with representatives of various bodies including religious heads, mall and hotel establishments. Over 200 members attended the day-long meeting that was chaired by DCP (Law and Order) M. Muthuraj.

At the meeting, Muthuraj and other Police officials categorically told hotels and business establishments to keep a strict watch on visitors and people who take accommodation in hotels and lodges. They were asked to take precautionary measures by installing high-quality Closed Circuit TV cameras, barricades and also frisk the visitors with metal detectors. The luggage should also be inspected with the help of dedicated scanning machines and if suspicious, baggage must be opened to examine the contents, they were told.

Muthuraj asked the participants to take up security measures at places of worship, shopping malls, marriage halls or hotels to keep such terror attacks at bay. They must also keep barricades at vantage points to prevent free movement and were told to get Police assistance during mass gatherings like celebrations or festivals or during any event at prominent places.

Hoteliers were asked to mandatorily take identity and address proof and make their own background checks before letting visitors enter the rooms. Even after giving accommodation, their movements must be watched.

There are more than 203 lodges and eight star hotels in Mysuru. Hotel owners and managers have been asked to report to the Police in case any person refuses to undergo a security check or luggage check or refuses to provide address and ID proof.

Soon after the meeting, the Mysuru Hoteliers’ Association issued a set of instructions to hotels and lodges to comply with the measures as suggested by the Police Department.

Association President C. Narayanagowda warned hoteliers against the possibilities of terrorists in the guise of tourists booking rooms in advance only to sneak into the city. To prevent such activities, metal detectors should be installed to frisk customers before allotting rooms.

Along with the city Police, the State Intelligence Wing is also on high alert in Mysuru following the terror attack in Sri Lanka. There are over 40 intelligence men in Mysuru headed by SP B.T. Kavitha. “Directions have been issued to us to keep a close watch on new visitors and people moving with bag and baggage in a suspicious manner in crowded places including religious establishments and on special festival occasions,” Kavitha told Star of Mysore.

The local intelligence team will closely coordinate with the State Wing who in turn will keep in touch with National Intelligence Agency. All local happenings will be reported to the State Wing and alerts are issued to teams to increase their vigil on suspects, Kavitha added.

City Police Commissioner K.T. Balakrishna told SOM that the State Railway Police personnel are closely coordinating with the Central Railway Police Force in screening visitors.