Do we have enough security during festivals?

The blast at the Dargah of Moin-ud-din Chishti in Ajmer has given raised a key question: are governments doing enough in terms of security at the time of festivals?

Terrorists favour a festive atmosphere considering the number of people that gather.

This is not the first time that a blast has occurred ahead of festivities. There have been four instances in the recent past during which terror has struck ahead of festivities.

On October 29, 2005, 50 people were killed and over 100 injured ahead of Diwali and Eid celebrations.

On March 7, 2006, twin blasts at the Sankat Mochan temple at Varnasi left 28 people dead and several others injured on an auspicious Tuesday.

On April 14, 2006, 12 persons were injured at the Jama Masjid in Delhi during the Friday prayers.

Around 38 persons lost their lives and over 100 persons were injured at the Melegaon mosque on Shab-e-Barat on September 8, 2005.

The last one before the Ajmer blast was a blast that occurred at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on May 18, 2007. In this incident over 10 persons were killed. So why is there is a security let up despite having so many similar incidents in the past. Is it appeasement or is it plain lethargy? The police say there ought to be more coordination between them and the Intelligence Bureau.

Ahead of festivals, the police have to beef up security and there is no question of any let up. Take for instance the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad. Immediately after the blasts, there was hue and cry raised over the security lapse. For a few days there was frisking and tight security. However, now it seems to have just vanished in thin air. Sources informed that several persons visiting the mosque felt that the security was too much and was acting as a hindrance for those entering into the mosque.

The police say that it hurts the ego of some to be frisked and checked and these are the persons who object. However the very same persons are the ones who raise a hue and cry when some incident takes place. The police feel unless there the interference from the netas stop and people start cooperating, there is no way in which they could put an end to this menace. IB sources say that the terrorists are a patient lot. They are ready to wait years before carrying out an attack. The moment they get to know that security is slack, they carry out an attack. The key to putting an end to this problem is to ensure that there is no let up in security what so ever at any point of time.