Glaring security lapses in Karimnagar theatres

Karimnagar: Several movie theatres in the city and elsewhere in the district appear to have taken security of audience for granted by not following certain guidelines set by the police authorities. The theatres do not have functioning metal detection systems to prevent occurrence of untoward incidents leaving security wanting.

Generally, public spaces like bus stands, movie theatres and hotels are the most vulnerable to terror attacks carried out by some terrorist outfit. Evidently, Azham Ghori of the Indian Muslim Mohammadi Mujahideen (IMMM) module and who was directly involved in Sai Baba temple blast in 2002 blasted a bomb in order to test it in a theatre of Metpalli a few years back.

Despite this, management of cinema theatres are not concerned about following security measures. A total of 48 theatres are being operated in 13 towns of the district. Karimnagar city has 10 theatres including Prathima multiplex. But, most of these cinema halls do not use security equipment such as door frame metal detector (DFMD) and hand held metal detectors (HHMD).

Mr Koteshwar Rao, manager of Shiva theatre, located in the heart of the city, admitted that they don’t use HHMDs when there are poor crowds for a film screened in their hall. When checked, the equipment had not been charged. The theatre has no DFMD at its entrance. Similarly, the security of Mamatha theatre was not carrying the hand held metal detectors, though it has four devices.

Shockingly, the management of Prathima multiplex, which has two screens, appeared to be least concerned over security of its audience. Its two DFMDs are non-functioning. Security officer D. Srinivasa Reddy confessed that the connection of the DFMDs snapped recently.

Not only theatres of the city, several other halls located in Godavarikhani, Jagtial, Huzurabad, Husnabad, Peddapalli, Koratla and Metpalli towns have stopped using security equipments, citing peaceful environment of the district. When contacted, Karimnagar DSP J. Rama Rao said that notices would be served to all theatres to ensure usage of DFMDs and HHMDs.