Following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) message to Hyderabad city police warning of possible terror strikes on the occasion of Mahasivaratri festival on March 10, the police have stepped up vigil. Intensive checks are being carried out across the length and breadth of the city. Though the IB issues such alerts on almost all festivals round the year, the police are not taking any chances this time around, perhaps learning lessons after the February 21 twin bomb blasts.
The message, sources said, suggests that the terorrists could carry out a strike, especially at places where there are large gatherings and suggested that security be beefed up.
Over the last two days, various teams of Hyderabad police fanned out to different locations and took up frisking and checking operations. The ops were further intensified Wednesday as the commandos of Octopus went about conducting a mock drill at Prasad’s Imax with a view to creating awareness among the people.
The Octopus guards “rescued” public from the flames and explained to the people how to be alert and inform the police about suspicious persons and material.
The personnel also searched Lumbini Park, NTR Park and some places on the Necklace road.
At other places, police teams randomly took up frisking of persons and checking of vehicles which even led the sleuths to seize lakhs of rupees, which could not be accounted for.
Begum Bazar police led by DCP V B Kamalasan Reddy visited congested localities and directed managements of business establishments to instal CCTVs as a precautionary measure. Cops also conducted decoy operations in various malls and shops and found some shopowners were not frisking customers. Later, police issued notices to shopowners to be on alert and follow security procedures.
Similarly, DCP west zone D Sudheer Babu was seen checking and frisking with his team at various places.
Meanwhile, police recovered `15 lakh currency besides US dollars, all worth `35 lakh, at different places during searches. The Narayanaguda police detained the person carrying US currency without valid documents.
Another man, who was found carrying `10 lakh on his bike at Himayatnagar, reportedly told during questioning that he was taking the money to deposit in a bank. Police informed Income Tax officials and reportedly handed over the seized cash to them.