PUDUCHERRY: The security in the Legislative Assembly complex is being enhanced prior to the Budget session of the Assembly beginning on September 8.
This measure comes following attempts of sabotage of CCTV cameras two weeks ago and with the Union Home Ministry sounding an alert across several States hours after Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri announced the formation of an Indian wing of their organisation to open a campaign in the subcontinent. The CCTV cameras at the back entrance were found twisted and in another incident there were attempts to break them on Sunday, sources said.
Following a complaint from the Assembly secretary, the security wing of the police began investigation. They have examined the footage and taken the fingerprint impression for probe.
Meanwhile, additional security measures for the Assembly was decided on Friday at a meeting convened by the Assembly secretary S Mohandass along with Superintendent of Police SIGMA- Security N Ravikumar, Assistant Commandant of India Reserve Battalion Vijay Narayanan Singh and Inspector (security) C Maran. It was held at the chamber of the secretary.
Armed security personnel would man all the three entrance and exit points ( two in the front and two on the back) in the Assembly, said Ravikumar.
At present only one of the exits points was guarded by five armed police personnel that included a head constable and four police constables (PCs). Each entrance and exit point would be manned by a team of six that included one armed guard, four constables with a head constable in-charge. Even the strength of the security personnel was being enhanced by posting two head constables and eight police constables in addition to the existing strength. At present, the Assembly security was in the hands of 30 watch and wards, three head constables and 15 constables. This would be done before the budget session on Monday.
Moreover, CCTV cameras were being revamped with additional CCTV cameras being installed to cover all locations. Presently, there were seven CCTV cameras which capture the image of people entering the main Assembly building. Now, additional cameras would be strategically placed to not only cover all points in the Assembly complex but also in a direction to capture the images of people moving in and out of the Assembly, he said.
The number of cameras and points where they would be installed would be decided based on the study that has been taken up. The report was expected within a week, he said
Meanwhile, it was noticed that no restrictions were applied for entry through the gates of the Assembly.