Open House: What should be done to avert terror strikes and ensure public safety?

Act strictly against criminals

Are we safe? This is the question, which haunts every mind when a heinous act such as a bomb blast kills and seriously injures people. And when such a violent incident takes place at the District Court Complex in Ludhiana, which is otherwise regarded as impregnable, safety of life of the public and even their existence becomes a matter of concern. Therefore, to instill a sense of security in the minds of people, the state government must marginalise troublemakers and act firmly against criminals.

Novin Christopher

Provide special training to cops

To mitigate incidents such as bomb blasts there should be a proper tracing of the public at public utility spaces and proper barricading on inter-state borders. To maintain law and order, the police should be trained with special guidance that how they can be vigilant to encounter terror strikes.

Jasdeep Kaur

Maintain peace at any cost

Peace must be maintained at any cost. The bomb blast in the district courts has rendered all of us speechless. This has been an unfortunate incident in which one person has died and a few were injured. When such an incident occurs, many questions come to the mind of the common man. How can the state move towards the path of development in such a violent atmosphere. Punjab has suffered much due to terrorism in the past. Occurrence of the incident might be connected to the upcoming Assembly elections. However, peace must be restored ahead of the Assembly elections.

JBS Nanda

Cops should be more vigilant, responsive

Life has become vulnerable to terrorism. Safety is in our hands only. Police personnel should be more responsive and vigilant to cater to the safety and security of the public. CCTV cameras installed at various points must be in a working condition. Security should be tightened in every nook and corner of the city throughout the year to avoid such violent incidents in the future.

Swati Garg

Step up security measures in state

Firstly, it was drones flying near the international border in Punjab, then large hauls of drugs were also caught from near the border. Afterwards, there were sacrilege cases in Amritsar and a village in Kapurthala. And recently, a high-intensity bomb blast occurred in the Ludhiana district courts. All these incidents point to the fact that some anti-social elements are trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Punjab. The bomb blast is a major security lapse. There is an urgent need to step up security measures across the state so that such unfortunate incidents can be stopped. The primary duty for maintaining security is of the state government but even people need to be vigilant. These incidents are a wake-up call for all. All public places must be put under strict surveillance to avoid such incidents. Elections are scheduled to be held in the state soon and the infamous Maur blast had also occurred before the elections in 2017. Hence, the government, police, intelligence agencies and also people must remain alert.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Strengthen security at public places

A bomb went off in the Ludhiana courts complex recently killing a person and injuring six others, prompting the Punjab Government to declare a high alert in the state. The explosion might be an attempt to create anarchy in the poll-bound state. Government and police officials must assure residents that they are committed to their safety and security and there is no need to panic. Security must be strengthened at various public places. Owners of eateries, cinema halls, malls and the officials concerned of various public places must check identity cards of their guests and scan their luggage with modern equipment. Police teams with dog squads and anti-sabotage team must carry out inspections at public places and the vigil be increased. The police must be informed immediately in case of any suspicious activity. Criminals and cobnvicted cops should be kept under constant surveillance. Anti-drug drives must be intensified. PCRs should be more responsive to deal with any exigency. Intelligence agencies should provide information to the officials concerned about any untoward incident before their occurrence to stop such acts. Above all, it is a joint task for the police and communities to reduce the risk and fear of such incidents among residents. Learn about locations of local police stations and hospitals for any emergency and ensure to have CCTV cameras installed at important points with the help of the police.

RS Sembhi

Round-the-clock vigil at sensitive places needed

Unfortunate incidents of sacrilege occurred in Punjab some days ago and the recent bomb blast incident at Ludhiana courts are a matter of grave concern. The police should be more vigilant as the Assembly elections are also going to be held in the near future in the state. A round-the-clock vigil around all religious places as well as other sensitive public places by the police is the need of the hour. It is also the duty of each and every person to see that nobody should disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the city. Suspects should be nabbed and handed over to the police immediately.

Sunil Chopra

Be vigilant at public places

To avert such terror strikes and ensure safety and security of the public at large, one must be extra vigilant in public places attended by large numbers of people. Don’t leave your belongings unattended. When you are in a building or commuting in a public transport, make sure you know about emergency exits. If there is an explosion outside a building, stay inside. Keep away from windows, lifts and outside doors. Find safe ways to leave the area. Move quickly and calmly and follow instructions of emergency officials.

Varun Chauhan

Give harsh punishment to criminals

As the elections are scheduled to be held in the state in the near future, there is a need for foolproof security of the public, especially in a big city such as Ludhiana. It is difficult to predict the danger in advance but every effort must be made to reduce it. It is the main duty of the government and the police authorities to always remain on their toes to curb any such violent act. If there is any suspicious activity, it must be noticed and quick action must be taken. Culprits should be given harsh punishment without any extra security and facilities. If somebody gets information about any such activity, it must be reported to the police authorities without any fear of being caught.

Ritu Priya

Tight security at govt offices needed

The high-intensity bomb blast at the District Court Complex in Ludhiana has raised concern over public safety. As elections are going to be held early this year in the state, law and order has again become a major issue. Again, anti-social elements or politicians are playing dirty politics to destroy the serene atmosphere of the state. To avert such incidents, bureaucrats must abide by strict execution of laws to maintain peace and order and there must be tight security at public places and government offices. Compulsory checking should be done at entrance gates of government offices. Moreover, election campaigns should be held with security, police guards must remain present at such events to ensure the safety of the public.

Gurnoor Kaushal

Increase number of police personnel

It is primarily the responsibility of the police to ensure the safety of the public, especially during the time of elections. The police must increase not only the number of police personnel on duty and also increase patrolling in streets, market places and important crossings of the city. The police have information about the presence of miscreants in various areas of the city. To keep a watch on their activities, police officials must be deployed in such areas. Any suspicious person creating any trouble must be apprehended and questioned and culprits should be punished as per law. If needed, more police force may be brought from neighbouring states for the safety of the public and all places in the city. The public must also remain vigilant. If they find any suspicious person, the matter must be reported to the police. The police should set up checkpoints at entry and exit points of the city and those coming to the city must be checked properly. All efforts must be made to strengthen the functioning of the police to ensure the safety of people.

Gautam Dev

Strict checking at govt offices needed

The government must take precautions for the safety of the public and smooth functioning of all establishments ahead of the Assembly elections in the state by increasing vigil at shopping malls, offices and other sensitive areas. CCTVs must be installed. Proper checking should be done at entrances to government offices. Nobody should be allowed to enter such places without identity cards. People should not be allowed to roam around public places. One must avoid, if possible, going to places visited by a large number of people.

Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Reduce entrances to public places

The recent bomb blast in the District Court Complex has exposed serious security lapses. People visiting courts and other public places use many entrances. To ensure the safety of thousands of people who visit courts, offices, markets, railway stations and bus stations, adequate police personnel should be deployed round the clock. Number of entrances to such public places should be reduced and more metal detectors should be used for checking visitors.

Ashwani Kumar Malhotra

More efforts by govt needed

To remove fear in the minds of the public and to ensure safety, the government must take various steps. Carrying of identity cards must be made mandatory. Only those people should be allowed entry to public places who have some genuine works. Places such as shopping malls and cinema halls, proper search should be carried out. Security guards must be provided metal detectors for proper checking at entrances to various establishments.

Farzana Khan

Use hi-tech equipment for checking

The recent bomb blast incident occurred in Ludhiana created a fear among people ahead of the Assembly elections. To maintain security and peace in the state is a big challenge in such circumstances. Intelligence agencies should be more alert in the state to curn any untoward incident. Security should be tight and strict in all areas. Police patrolling should also be increased. The latest security equipment must be installed at public places. Drones could be used to check security of various areas.

Adish Sood

Spread awareness among public

In the past also, many attempts have been made by some anti-social elements to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the state which were foiled by the Punjab Police. However, the recent bomb blast at the Ludhiana District Court Complex is worrisome. Peace can be secured with meticulous planned steps. The authorities concerned should address the problem of unemployment, start a process of deredicalisation of youth and speedy judicial proceedings should be initiated against accused in sacrilege cases. Political parties should not indulge in spreading hatred. The government and all sections of society should spread awareness about benefits of communal harmony. The police should use the latest technology to trace criminals planning to undertake heinous crimes in the state.

Sukhdev Sharma

Public safety should be govt’s priority

Recently, the District Court Complex in Ludhiana witnessed a bomb blast which injured a few and took the life of one person. Such an attack was shocking for people of the entire state. It has raised questions over safety of the public. Mass gatherings are expected at various places due to the festival season and campaigning by political parties for the coming Assembly elections in the state. Hence, public safety should be on the high-priority list of the government. High-risk areas should be identified and police force should be deployed at such locations. Strict security checks should be initiated. Unnecessary gatherings should not be allowed for a while and with the help of media, awareness should be created among the public to avoid any untoward incidents.

Akanksha Attri

QUESTION

A sudden spike in daily, active cases and positivity rate of Covid has again given rise to the possibility of a third virus wave in Ludhiana district, which had remained worst-hit during the second wave of the dreaded pandemic, claiming maximum lives and infecting a large population. With Covid-appropriate behaviour going for a toss and complete vaccination of target population remaining still below 50 per cent, the state’s biggest and largest district, in terms of area and population, is facing a threat of another health emergency. What should be done to check the further spread of Covid?

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