By IANS,
Surat : A fair that is drawing huge crowds in this south Gujarat city, where 29 unexploded bombs were found in July, does not have adequate security arrangements, says an organiser.
The Handloom and Handicraft Fair, which is visited by about 5,000 people everyday, started last week and is to continue for another 40 days at Vanita Vishram ground in Athwagate here.
“There are only 100 security guards and nine metal detectors at the fair. Majority of the guards are untrained and unarmed while metal detectors are used when felt necessary,” says Dilipbhai, one of the organisers of the fair.
Dilipbhai from Pune has been part of this fair for the past 15 years. This time around he seems ill at ease.
“Only two emergency exits are in working condition out of the 10,” he says, worry writ large on his face.
Besides, there are no fire safety equipments and only five constables have been deployed at the fair.
At the parking place, there are no security checks after vehicles enter the fair premises.
Although there are 200 shops and everyday over 5,000 visitors come to the fair, organisers do not have an emergency alarm system and if anything happens, there is a walky-talky facility that covers a range within the fair only.
Brij Pal, security in charge of the fair, said that liaising with the police and other agencies are going on to prevent any untoward incident.
Routine checks are being done and announcements are made in order to keep the people alert. “Security is adequate for the fair,” he claimed.
On Thursday, searches were carried out at a post office and the airport after calls were received at the police control room that bombs were planted there. The calls turned out to be hoaxes.
The police had found as many as 29 bombs and two cars laden with explosives from the city in the last week of July. The bombs, said to have been planted on the night of July 24-25, were recovered from the densely populated Varaccha locality, where a majority of the diamond cutting and polishing units are situated. Some of the bombs were found hidden on trees and hoardings.
Though none of the bombs exploded, their discovery created panic among people and commercial activities, especially in Varachha, came to a standstill for over four days.