If you are a parent or teacher, please educate children regarding the dangers of touching or picking up strange objects. This is the message of Delhi Police to the public in the wake of Mehrauli blast in which a young boy was killed after he picked up a packet, dumped by two motorcyclists, in which explosives were kept.
Coverage: Delhi Blasts
The city police has appealed to teachers and parents to take the initiative in making children aware of the dangers in picking up objects like toys and attractive packets lying unclaimed on roads.
"Kids are very inquisitive and they tend to fetch objects which could lead to a tragedy. We need the cooperation of parents and teachers," a senior police official said.
A 13-year-old boy, Santosh Kumar, was killed in the blast in a flower market on September 27. He was trying to return the packet, which he thought fell from the hands of the bombers, when the bomb exploded.
"There is a sense of panic these days. I always tell my child not to touch anything which is lying unclaimed and don't accept toys or anything from strangers. Teachers should also tell students about this," Sharmila Khanna, a mother of a five-year-old boy, said.
Police is also warning the public not to pick up any suspicious and unclaimed objects like hand bags, packets, and bicycles, which have been used by terrorists to hide bombs.
The city police has already issued instructions to owners of cyber cafes, in the wake of terrorists using such facilities to send terror mails.
Cyber cafes have to ensure that users mention their name, address and telephone number in a register besides providing identity proof.
Persons should be allowed to use cyber cafes only after establishing his or her identity through identity cards, ration cards, driving licences, passport or photo credit card, the official said.
Urging the public to be the 'eyes and ears' of the police, the official said, people like rickshaw and cart pullers, taxi drivers, fruit vendors and telephone booth operators can help the cops in a big way in keeping a watch on suspicious activity.
"They should be alert and vigilant about surroundings especially where your vehicle or rickshaw is parked. Check thoroughly your vehicle including your under-carriage and ensure that passengers do not leave any bag or article," the official said.
Reminding that it was the alertness of two rag pickers that averted two blasts in Connaught Place on September 13 when five other explosions rocked the city, the official said that cooperation from public was very much needed in ensuring foolproof security.
The two rag pickers had spotted suspicious polythene bags in Regal Cinema and Connaught Place and alerted police, which defused live bombs hidden in the packets.
The official said traders should keep a watch on customers and report about suspicious customers to the police.
In an advice to landlords and property dealers, police said they should verify the antecedents of tenants and buyers before entering into a deal.
"Satisfy yourself about the antecedents of both the parties, particularly the buyer before finalising the deal and insist on identification documents, photocopies of which should be retained," police said in its advisory to property dealers.
Guest house and hotel owners should also insist on identification documents before booking a room for the guest.