This Article is From Dec 21, 2009

Mock exercise conducted in Chandigarh's market

Chandigarh: It was a harrowing time for shop owners and few shoppers in the main market complex in the city today after it was surrounded by a heavy police force on an "information" that terrorists had struck in the area.
     
A strong contingent of police, including the top brass SSP S S Srivastava swung into action and took around 45 minutes to "neutralise the terrorists". Only that the whole exercise was a mock one.

The whole scene was enacted with an objective to see the police preparedness in case of terror strike, Srivastava told reporters after the exercise was conducted.

The entire area was cordoned off and the priority of the security agencies was to evacuate the injured and then neutralise the terrorists, he said.

"We have video-graphed the entire mock operation and the police will now analyse its efficiency," he said, adding that "there was a good response by police personnel after the fake message of terror strike was flashed."

Shortcomings will be analysed to minimise errors, he said. Srivastava ruled out that the police had any specific information about possible terror strike in the city close to the festive season of Christmas and New year.

The SSP claimed that the police force was fully prepared to fight against any terror strike and made a contingency plan in association with force of neighbouring Mohali and Panchkula.
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