Patna, Aug. 23: Announcements on implementation of security measures outside schools located in risky areas of the state capital have been met with a half-hearted approach by law enforcers over the past one year.

The Telegraph today undertook a reality check on four schools when they gave over and found the state of affairs in a condition that left much to be desired. The security of students seemed to be the last thing on the agenda of school and the police administrations.

Six months have passed after Shweta Suman (16), a student of DAV, BSEB Colony died after being crushed by her own school bus just outside the school campus but the police’s promise to post a patrol party near the school at the opening and closing time to provide security to students but it is yet to be fulfilled.

However, it is not just about a particular school. While the cops were present at the gate of certain schools, many other institutions did not have any police cover.

Recently, Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar repeated the direction after a brother-sister duo from Christ Church Diocesan School were kidnapped. Among the directions given was the setting up of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at the school gates by August 23.

12.40pm: Classes at Don Bosco Academy at Digha were getting over. With no police personnel in sight, The Telegraph team enquired. “Police personnel are posted sometimes. They move near the school gate and take care of the situation, but not always. Today, they are not at the spot however,” a school guard said.

Police reply: “Our personnel are present at the opening and closing time of the school most of the days,” a police officer at Digha police station said.

1.35pm: Students start leaving DAV BSEB School in Shastri Nagar police station area, some by school buses, others on foot with their parents and on two-wheelers. No policeman could be spotted on the entire stretch of the road. “No, I have not seen any police near the school ever. I heard about the police’s directions but the cops have never really stopped near the school gate. Police parties can be seen moving along the road but for other purposes,” a school guard told The Telegraph.

Police reply: A police officer at Shastri Nagar police station said: “It is not that the police are never near DAV School. The patrol party is present when the school opens in the morning. But the police keep busy in other work at times and are never sitting idle.”

2pm: The scene was cheerful outside Mount Carmel School on Bailey Road. A police Gyspy could be seen parked before it drove into the school premises.

Police reply: “We are following the directions. The school is located on a very busy road and is exposed to risks. Hence, the police needs to be at the spot always alert looking after the students,” a police officer of the patrol party said.

2.30pm: At St Xavier’s School near Gandhi Maidan, four traffic havildars could be seen in front of its gate. But the fact is these men were deputed since a schoolgirl was crushed to death by a speeding bus trying to cross the road last year.

Police reply: “We have been here since long and we ensure that the traffic is controlled strictly whenever children cross the road. The police patrol parties are there too but we are here for sure,” a traffic constable said.

Senior police officers said the directions had been given and it was expected that the respective police stations would abide by the guidelines. “Police are quite serious about the safety of schoolchildren. Strict instructions have been issued that police personnel must be present near gates of schools in risky areas,” an officer said.