Ranchi, Jan. 28: Safety of shoppers, especially women in the city’s shopping centres, is an issue to which mall owners turn a deaf ear despite instructions by the police.

While only a handful of malls have installed CCTVs, not a single door-frame metal detector can be seen though the police have made these security gadgets mandatory for malls.

For the sake of security, each mall deploys around two to three private security guards, which is inadequate for their safety. As these guards are posted only at the entrance, the vast unguarded spaces within the mall give ample opportunity for any kind of criminal activity.

“We have asked the mall owners to improve the safety measures for shoppers. We would soon visit the malls and review the security arrangements,” said senior superintendent of police M.S. Bhatia. The police, who were scheduled to inspect the security arrangements at GEL Church Complex today, had to postpone their visit as the mall authorities were out of town.

Concerned over the poor security at the malls, the police had convened a meeting almost two months ago in which owners of GEL Church Complex, Hari Om Tower, Panchwati Plaza Firayalal, Gopal Complex among others and members of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries took part. It was decided that malls would install CCTVs, door-frame metal detectors apart from increasing the number of private security personnel.

Attention was drawn towards the security aspect after a rape attempt in a Jamshedpur shopping mall. A young couple were recently caught at Hari Om Tower, Ranchi, in a compromising position.

A visit by to the city’s shopping malls revealed that the mall owners have scant interest in following security guidelines.

“I will visit GEL Church Complex and other shopping malls with my team within three days to find out whether our advice has been followed,” said superintendent of police Richard Lakra.

When quizzed, mall owners showed little concern over the issue of security arrangements.

“Merely holding a meeting and telling us to step up the security at our malls would not help the cause. The police should visit our markets, identify the spots where the CCTVs and the door-frame metal detectors should be installed,” said a member of GEL Church Associates.

The officers-in-charge of police stations said victims of eve-teasing and molestation prefer not to lodge formal complaints.

“But our sources apprise us of such happenings in the city malls,” said an officer of Lower Bazaar police station.