At the Hard Rock Cafe in Bangalore there was not much difference between the night of November 26 when the Mumbai attacks began and through the nights that the battle raged. A steady stream of patrons, both Indian and foreigner, walked through the doors during the siege in Mumbai. The only difference — there were no security checks at the entrance to any of the places before November 26.

Mumbai attacks have brought the issue of security into focus. A brief period of hyperactivity had followed the July 25 serial blasts that had killed one person but the security situation in the region had largely remained unchanged.

Security at hotels and public places like malls, shopping arcades and hospitals has now been increased following a review issued by the state intelligence and city police commissioner Shankar Bidari. The entry of vehicles at five star hotels and hospitals is now preceded by security checks. Hospitals have now started restricting visitors calling on patients.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and senior police officials recently held meetings with the management of hotels, international airport and industry representatives to assess the security situation.

IT hubs like the Electronic City, the International Technology Park and companies like Infosys and Wipro have announced increased surveillance for their campuses. “In view of the attacks in Mumbai, we have increased security across all our campuses in India and will remain fully alert,” Infosys said in an official statement. Nasscom in a statement following the attacks said member companies of the software establishment association must “continue to ensure that their customers are not affected.”

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