New Delhi, December 17 – A day after the brutal massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, schools in India observed a two-minute silence and held special prayer meetings to pay homage to the young victims of the terror attack.
The two-minute silence was kept in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet saying, “In the wake of dastardly attack in Pakistan, I appeal to schools across India to observe 2 mins of silence tomorrow as a mark of solidarity.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of the attack in Pakistan, Delhi Police have sounded a high alert to keep a watch on schools in the city. A message has been sent out to all 160 police stations in the city to keep a close check on schools falling in their jurisdiction.
“We have asked all 11 (police) districts’ heads and station house officers of the capital to keep a check on the schools and colleges falling in their area,” a police officer told IANS.
“All the beat officials have been asked to visit the schools and colleges falling in their jurisdiction and keep a proper watch on the security there. The officials have been asked to keep in touch with the school and college authorities to ensure the security of students,” he said.
According to the officer, the area officials have been asked to advise school and college administrations to keep a proper watch on people entering the premises of their organisation. Every station house officer has been instructed to visit schools and colleges in their jurisdiction, the officer said. Over 5,000 government and private schools are being run in the capital.
“A PCR van will keep patrolling near every school and college. All the police stations have been informed to keep ready a quick reaction team (QRT) and quick response vehicle (QRV) to tackle any unprecedented happenings,” said the officer. “Army schools and those falling in Delhi Cantonment and New Delhi areas have been taken on proper radar,” said the officer.
“Authorities have been instructed to keep the door of their school premises closed all the time,” he said. The Delhi Police conducted separate mock drills in the capital – including India Habitat Centre, Kalkaji Temple, a metro station and in a market -to deal with a sudden terror attack.
-INDIA TODAY
