CM draws up defence plan

CM draws up defence plan
BY S.A. HEMANTH KUMAR
BENGALURU







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: All tech compa nies, star hotels and institutions that could be on the terror radar will have to submit their building plans to the anti-terrorist squad and the city police, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said on Sunday.

“This will enable the antiterror squad and the city police to prepare a multidimensional action plan to rescue hostages and combat terrorists, should a Mumbai-type emergency arise in Bengaluru,” the Chief Minister told Deccan Chronicle from the United States. “It will be a significant step in building the preparedness of the ATS.” According to the Chief Minister, the building plan should include details of the interiors, plinth and floor area, staircases, exits and emergency doors, power supply and telephone connections, water and sewage system — so the ATS can plan a crisis response in case of a terror attack.

“Detailed plans of all buildings housing sensitive state and Central government departments will also be obtained by the anti-terror squad,” Mr Yeddyurappa said. “Defence installations have their own security arrangements but the city police will obtain information from them too,” he added.

The Chief Minister denied that his government’s new security plan was drawn up following media reports that the National Security Guard did not have the building plan of Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Hotel in which terrorists were holed up for over 50 hours during the 26/11 attack.

“I got the idea during a chance meeting with an Israeli tourist at a hotel in Michigan. We discussed the Mumbai attack and I realised that it is imperative for the police to have information about the layout of buildings that could be targeted by terrorists. I do not want the security forces to be handicapped for want of information,” he added.