Hi Guys,
A few days back
as I was at Chennai Egmore to board a train home. There were a flock of people
entering the station and the Railway security personnel stopped us and asked
everyone to open the baggage. As there was no scanning device, they had to
search manually. When I enquired, they said it was as per the order to the
Election Commission. It took some two extra minutes for me to get in.
Most people didn’t
expect it to happen, but none were at discomfort too. It was a smooth check.
Simultaneously, my thought process took me to another world. What if a person
wanted to take excess money in his baggage at this point of time? Is there any
possibility? I figured out there are lot of easy ways. He could just walk in
through the other entrance. He could come through an electric train. He could
board the train at another station. There are no security checks anywhere.
These are not tough to think and it came to my mind in a matter of two minutes.
Another serious
doubt that came to my mind was how come the security personnel never thought
about these steps. Apparently anyone who would like to smuggle would not come
straight through the front gate unless he is an idiot. Are the checks done in
order to stop smuggling or is it done for just a show off?
This doubt has
been in me for a long time. A few days back when I went to C.M.B.T (Chennai Mofussil
Bus Terminal) in Koyambedu during a festive time, strict checking was going on
at the entrance. But, I came through a bus and it just went inside. So, there
was an easy way in. Two years back when I went to Madurai Railway station to
send off my brother before Diwali, strict checking was done in the main
entrance. After sending off, I came via overhead platform directly outside and
there was no checking (the same platform could be used to enter the station as
well).
All these
incidents create a sense of panic in me as to how prepared we are? Whenever you
see news that strict checking are done in Public places to avoid any untoward
incidents, you feel safe. But, when you see the quality of checking, a sense of
fear creeps in. And most of the checking is done during festive season
expecting an untoward incident. But, if you see the pattern in the past,
untoward incidents happen on the most unexpected days.
When I think so
much about the quality of security, God has been kind with us that not many
major incidents have happened. I hope that the Government realizes that
namesake security is as good as no security and the efforts are ramped up.
Happy Reading!
