Though it was before the Mumbai terror attacks that Ludhiana police had asked leading city hotels and shopping malls to install X-ray machines for the screening of luggage, no hotel has complied with the orders till yet.

Observing that the orders are yet to be implemented, a police officer told Newsline, “We had asked leading city hotels to install X-ray machines much before the Mumbai incident. But no hotel has done so.”

Ludhiana Senior Superintendent of Police R K Jaiswal had called a meeting of the leading city hoteliers on November 27 and had asked them to install the machines to check the luggage of guests.

The SSP, today, said: “I will again convene a meeting and will urge them to install X-ray machines for their own safety.”

The idea to install machines was mooted as it has been observed that private security guards often hesitate to conduct security checks of bigwigs.

“In such cases of improper checking or no checking of VVIPs, explosives and fire-arms can sneak into the premises of hotels,” said a senior police officer, requesting anonymity.

DSP (PCR) Sandeep Sharma said, “We have now taken up the matter afresh with hotels as it would make their premises more secure.”