Hawk eye on temple, close watch on bicycles

In the wake of the twin blasts in Hyderabad, security at the Dagdusheth Ganpati temple in Pune city has been beefed up.

Mahesh Survayanshi, treasurer, Dagdusheth Ganpati Temple, said extra caution is being taken since Thursday. "There is no doubt the temple is a high-value target and on the radar of terrorists. We also know that there have been efforts in the past to attack the temple. Because of all this we are always cautious but whenever such attacks have happened elsewhere, police have tightened security here," said Suryavanshi.

Terrorists are believed to have recced the temple prior to the German Bakery blasts. Suryavanshi said the Trust has its own security team of 45 personnel. Additionally, 20 private security guards have been employed to manage the crowd and keep close vigil on visitors. The temple is located in Faraskhana police station limits.

"A total of 55 CCTV cameras are installed on the temple premises and are monitored by the Trust staff as well as by Faraskhana Police. We have a couple of scanners and several hand-held metal detectors to enhance security," said Suryavanshi.

A Faraskhana police team of two gunmen and 10 police personnel are deployed at the temple and is on vigil at all hours. Meanwhile, the security at three major State Transport depots remains unchanged. There is free movement of people and the baggage scanners are still not in place. However, ST officials said four CCTV cameras have finally come up recently at Shivajinagar bus stand. According to Vilas Patil, the depot manager, the CCTVs have been installed with the help of Shivajinagar Police.

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