After the bomb blast in the heart of Bengaluru, New Year celebrations for the city is not just the same. The blast, using IED at the busy church street in front of a popular restaurant, which killed one woman and left a few injured, has shaken the city and also hampered the festivities.
Now, Bengaluru is more cautious and putting extra security measures in place, particularly at the area where people traditionally congregate to ring in the New Year. The Church Street, MG Road, commercial street and area around seat of Power Vidhana Soudha, all have been fully under the thick blanket of security to avoid any untoward incident. Police have already changed the earlier announced closing time for bars and restaurants from 1 am to 2 am on the night of New Year’s Eve because of the blast.
“Every year we make lot of police arrangements, this year also we are making and in the background of blast that took place at the Church Street we are enhancing our police arrangements," DCP Central (Bengaluru) Sandeep Patil said. Briefing reporters, he said, "Every bush, every vehicle that is parked for a long period of time, suspicious object, and suspicious people — police will keep watch on all these things."
MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, Church Street and nearby areas attract thousands of New Year revelers. Watch towers with two policemen in each with one equipped with night vision binocular and other with rifle would keep a watch on the crowd, besides which 25 extra CCTV cameras from our police department, apart from those of shop owners, would be installed, he said. In addition, fire force and ambulances would be deployed as part of the security mechanism under which "everyone who comes for new year celebrations on MG Road and Brigade Road will be thoroughly frisked," he said.
Meanwhile, police have secured a person behind the threatening tweets from a twitter account claiming responsibility for the Bengaluru blast and warning more such blasts, that is now ‘suspended’. “Secured #latestAbdul He is a 17-year-old kid Satish (name changed). Seems psychologically stressed. Talking to him & his parents. Will take n/a (necessary action)," DCP Crime (Bengaluru) Abishek Goyal has tweeted.
He also tweeted that "Spoke to the misguided user of #latestAbdul. It reinforces the point that social media has to be used responsibly. Can be dangerous otherwise. "Following the threatening tweet yesterday, city police had requested citizens not to pay heed to rumour mongers. Meanwhile, local TV channels are showing visuals of people allegedly planted a bomb in front of coconut grove and police suspect the involvement of SIMI.
