Residents of Chandrama Apartment attend the meeting on security system of multi complex apartment in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar: April 3: Cops here are trying to sensitise residents of apartment buildings about their security needs.

The Cuttack-Bhubaesnwar police today held a meeting with residents of Chandrama Apartment, Kharvela Nagar, which was in news recently following an incident of firing.

The meeting was chaired by the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Himanshu Lal.

“We are asking associations of residents in various apartments to have only one entry and exit gate as have multiple exit and entry points could be a security risk. We have also asked them to install close circuit TV cameras at the gates and at other sensitive points such as parking areas, the reception area and lifts,” said the DCP.

Police also asked the representatives of the residents of Chandrama Apartment to appoint well-trained security guards provided by registered security agencies and to provide photo identity cards to these guards. “Periodic security checks and briefing must be done and the inspector in-charge of the nearest police station should be informed about this,” said a police officer.

Besides maintaining the proper registers of visitors coming into the apartment, the DCP advised the residents to install caller identity facilities in their telephones and magic eye system on the doors to check visitors before opening the door.

Apartment residents appreciated the move and said they would cooperate with the police for their own security. “Our apartment has three blocks, each with its own association. This makes it difficult to coordinate security arrangements. We plan to have one association for our security. Besides, we have started issuing passes to residents: vehicle passes, passes for parking area and so on,” said R.N. Satpathy, president of the apartment association.

The deputy commissioner also said that the city police have been taking all kinds of steps to force builders to install security gadgets and keep security arrangements ready during the construction period. “After today’s meeting, we will review the security measures adopted by the apartments,” said Lal.

The move was taken by the city police after some hoodlums were arrested from the flat of an MLA in Chandrama Apartment in Kharvela Nagar on February 1. The city police had arrested eight persons, including the personal security officer of the legislature, who had fired at police dressed in plain clothes, mistaking them for criminals. The MLA was also arrested one week later for sheltering criminals at his apartment.

That incident had sparked off panic among residents of the apartment as well as inhabitants of other apartments in the city.

Since then, the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar police had thought of sensitising residents of the apartments in the city about security arrangements they have access to. After the incident, the MLA was forced by the residents to leave the apartment in which he had been staying for more than a year.