Post Gurdaspur terror attack & Yakub hanging, police arm Hyderabad IT corridor

HYDERABAD: In view of the recent spate of alerts - post Gurdaspur terror attack and hanging of the 1993 Mumbai blast convict Yakub Memon -- sent by the Centre, the Cyberabad police have decided to arm corporates in the information technology (IT) corridor. In fact, they have decided to issue arms licenses so that armed private security personnel can handle a crisis till police or other security agencies take over operations.

The decision to issue such licenses has been communicated to the companies and many have expressed interest. "We need to prepare for any situation. Arming security personnel will help them in handling hostage situations, lone-wolf attacks or other crises. Otherwise, the unarmed security guards will be in a helpless situation when a crisis hits them. We will train the security guards in handling such weapons too,'' Cyberabad police commissioner CV Anand told TOI.

Over 500 registered corporates operate out of the IT corridor (Madhapur-Gachibowli stretch) and the police is ready to permit two guns - one basic weapon like a pistol and another a reasonably advanced weapon - to each firm.

As of now, IT major Wipro is the only company which has armed security guarding its campus at Gachibowli. The Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) said companies were deliberating on the issue.

"From a security point of view, it will certainly help the IT industry. We recommend that at least the big companies take these permits to secure themselves. Possessing such weapons will certainly act as a deterrent,'' A Bharani Kumar, Butler America Inc vice-president (India Operations & Global IT & BPO Services) and secretary of SCSC, said.

Earlier, the Cyberabad police had directed the IT companies to keep a vigil on usage of the Internet and social media by their employees to nail Islamis State (ISIS) sympathisers. In fact, one of the companies promptly alerted police after an employee downloaded information on explosives.