Security gaps at Mini-Secretariat

Gurvinder Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 25

Even though the Mini-Secretariat is supposed to be the most secure place in the district, all and sundry enter the premises without any security check.

There is no checking of persons or vehicles entering the Secretariat whatsoever. Ironically, vehicles entering the Mini-Secretariat are fervently directed towards the multilevel parking, but no security personnel are deployed at the entrance. Even the small room meant for security guard right at the entrance has been lying locked for years, with a defunct chair with layers of dust on it.

No scanners at the main entrance

There is no security check, scanner or metal detector at the main entrance of the Secretariat. These are missing even at the entrance to the DC complex building. Though security personnel are there at the entrance to the DC complex, they hardly check any person entering the complex. Not only this, there is hardly any check even at the main entrance gate of the police commissionerate side. The only metal detector is at the police commissionerate building.

Barring one security guard at Suwidha Centre, there are no security guards at any other hall. “Recently a pickpocket was caught by residents and officials and then the security guard was called. Had he carried any harmful weapon, he could have injured us. There is a need for security guards at all halls,” said a staff member.

Speaking about the lapse in security at the Mini-Secretariat, a senior police official, however, admitted that there was a need to step up security at the Mini-Secretariat.

“Sniffer dogs check the complex in the morning and evening, but there is a need for placing scanners and plugging the multiple entrances to the complex and better surveillance of the Mini-Secretariat complex,” he said. There is no check of security arrangements in other parts of the complex as well.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Paramraj Singh Umranangal, when asked about the security arrangements, said: “Four-five persons cannot check thousands of persons visiting the Mini-Secretariat every day, but there is a need for improvement of security measures, no doubt. We have it on our mind and are planning in this direction.”

“But the district administration must also take initiatives to streamline parking as haphazard parking can also be misused by anti-social elements. We have taken care of security and parking from the police commissionerate building side,” he added.