| General
Bus Stand |
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| Report
of CCTV System for General Bus Stand Badami
Bagh Lahore |
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| Introduction: |
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| General
Bus Stand Badami Bagh Lahore is perhaps the
largest, most important and busiest Bus Stand
in Punjab from where buses are dispatched
to destinations all over Pakistan. Due to
its evolutionary poor development, lack of
funds, lack of space and population explosion
in Punjab there is in very poor state of affairs,
including Public Security. Every day a lot
of public travel through these Bus Stands
and hence it has been one of the most favorite
spots for terrorists for subversive acts.
A total of 7 instances of bomb blasts had
occurred since 1991. During investigation
of these instances the investigators had no
evidence or no way to learn who plotted these
bombs. Some of the suspects had been caught
but since there was no evidence, the lawsuit
failed. To control all these Administrator
Metropolitan Corporation Lahore and later
Commissioner of Lahore held tenders for the
installation of CCTV System, but no system
was installed due to lack of funds. During
early 2002 on the concern of SSP Operations
and directions of SP City and under supervision
of SDPO Naulakha, it was decided to finally
put up a CCTV System. By motivating the transporters
and with their cooperation on self help basis
a unique plan was developed according to which
the cost of the system was to be borne by
local association of General Bus Stand. After
detailed negotiations with a number of CCTV
Installers in Lahore the Local Association
selected Mondial Security Electronics for
the installation of the project. |
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| In
this report an attempt is made to highlight and cover
all the important aspects of the CCTV System that was
installed at General Bus Stand along with some of the
other security measures taken to maximize the control
and management, and minimize the chances of terrorism
and other criminal activities at General Bus Stand Lahore. |
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| Brief
Discussion on Terrorist Activities in General Bus Stand: |
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| Before
proceeding further a brief discussion may be required
to understand the circumstances under which the installation
of CCTV System had become must. Below are few records
from FIR at Police Station General Bus Stand: |
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- Case No. 79 / 91, Dated 4th June 1991, a bomb exploded
in KSA667 of New Khan Company in which one person
died and 8 injured.
- Case No. 209 / 95, Dated 27th October 1995, a bomb
exploded at Petrol Pump in which a Bus was damaged,
but no casualty.
- Case No. 226 / 95, Dated 1st December 1995, a bomb
exploded in LHO4796 which was destined for Vehari,
Multan and bomb was planted beneath a seat at the
back of the bus. In this incident 3 died, 16 injured
and two buses were damaged.
- Case No. 98, Dated 7th April 2000, a bomb exploded
in a shop at Madina Chowk near stand No. 12. twelve
to thirteen people injured in addition to damage to
nearby buildings.
- Case No. 173, Dated 7th July 2000, a bomb exploded
in SGF3565 in Gujrat Mazda Stand leaving one dead
and 4 injured. The bomb was placed under the Mazda
Van. After investigations a suspect Yousaf Maseeh
was arrested and a lawsuit against him was filed but
was released by the court due to lack of evidence.
- Case No. 235, Dated 3rd September 2000, a bomb exploded
in Waiting Room of stand No. 12 leaving 1 dead and
11 injured.
- Case No. 364 / 2000, Dated 27th November 2000, a
bomb exploded again in stand No. 12 in LPT6297, rescue
services and police arrived the scene but minutes
later another bomb exploded in Gujrat Coaster Stand
No. 7.
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| From
the study of above incidents following points were noted: |
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- During above incidents the bombs were mostly planted
in luggage by suspicious travelers. Since there was
a lot of chaos no body took notice of the luggage
and they finally exploded.
- In some other incidents the bombs were planted underneath
the Buses while they were parked with no attendant.
- Although investigating such incidents is like hunting
in darkness but even then if some suspects were arrested
they were released due to lack of evidence.
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| Authorities
after detailed study needed a system which may provide
following features: |
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- A record of all the activities around buses on video
cassettes so that investigators have some sort of
record for activities in those areas.
- A monitoring room with an alert observer is required
to keep an eye on the activity of the General Bus
stand for suspicious activities.
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| CCTV
System at General Bus Stand: |
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| The
General Bus Stand was divided into four areas namely: |
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- 22 Ways Area or Stand No. 12.
- Peshawar Stand or Stand No. 9.
- Shakargarh Stand.
- Non-AC Stands or General Bus Stand.
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| CCTV
System at 22 Bays Area: |
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| One
camera is installed on the top of Waiting Area just outside
the Monitoring Room to view the activity of people moving
around in front of the Buses, etc. Two cameras are installed
at a pole in front of the Bays to keep an eye on all the
boarding and lodging of passengers and departure of the
buses towards their destination. One camera is installed
at the top of Al-Malik Hotel to keep a birds eye view
on the middle area of the ways where the buses are mostly
unattended and insecure and any thing can be planted inside
or outside of the buses by terrorists. One camera is installed
at the back side of the ways to keep an eye on the rear
of the ways. |
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| CCTV
System at Peshawar Stand: |
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| One
camera is installed on the top of Passenger Waiting Area
to keep an eye on the left area of the 12 ways. One is
installed on a pole on the right side of the ways to keep
an eye on the front right area of the bays. While one
camera is installed at the back of the stands on the top
of Passengers Waiting Area and which covers the rear portion
of the ways. |
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| Monitoring
Room for 22 Bays and Peshawar Stand: |
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| Five
cameras from 22 Ways and three cameras from Peshawar Stand
are being monitored at Monitoring Room at Waiting Area
of 22 Ways. The cameras are simultaneously viewed on a
12” Hi-Resolution Monitor with a 9 Channel B/W Multiplexer.
The video of all eight cameras is being recorded simultaneously
with time and date generation on an 8 Hour or 12 Hour
Video Cassette using a Video Cassette Recorder and record
is maintained for atleast one week. Additionally, the
operator may digitally zoom any of the eight cameras to
further magnify and get a clear magnified image of any
of the area for detailed analysis. The observer who is
of course a policeman if finds any suspicious activity
may inform other policemen at patrol in the general bus
stand and check and see for the lost luggage and other
criminal activities. |
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| It
would not be out of place to mention here that a special
new room was constructed to establish the above mentioned
monitoring room again on self help basis with the cooperation
of local transporters. |
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| CCTV
System at Shakargarh: |
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| One
camera is installed on top of old committee office to
view front of Kala Khatai or Narang Mandi Stand. One camera
is installed on top of Khawaja Center to view middle and
rear of Kala Khatai or Narang Mandi Stand. One camera
is installed on top of PCO building to view the front
of Kanganpur / Jaranwala Stand. |
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| CCTV
System at Non-AC Coach Stands: |
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| One
camera on the top of monitoring room to cover Dera Stand
of Non-AC Coach Stand Area. One camera is installed on
top roof of non-AC stands to cover middle and rear of
non-AC Coach Stands. One camera is installed on the top
roof of Wazir Ali Auto Center to cover front of non-AC
Coach Stands. One camera is installed on top rear roof
of Wazir Ali Auto Center to cover middle of non-AC Coach
Stands. |
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| Monitoring
Room for Shakargarh and Non-AC Coach Stands: |
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| Three
cameras from Shalargarh and four from Non-AC Coach Stands
are controlled by four Quad Processing Units, one switcher
and a 12” monitor. The two quad videos from both
quad processors are recorded simultaneously on two separate
VCR’s and Video Cassettes. However in contrast to
the multiplexer unit installed in 22 Ways and Peshawar
Stand the video of each camera will be one quarter of
the screen of the monitor. |
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| Other
Security Measures Taken by City Police: |
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| As
part of the security plan by SP City Police other measures
were also taken by SHO General Bus Stand and Transporters
Association which may be summarized as follows: |
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- Effective Deployment of Metal Detectors:
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| Metal
detectors are made compulsory for all transporters to
check passengers for suspicious devices and weapons. There
is one metal detector at each stand. |
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- Effective Deployment of
Private Security Guards:
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| Security
guards attired in their uniform with metal detectors,
arranged by the transporters on self-help basis, for thorough
search of passengers and their luggage before boarding
are present at each stand. |
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- ID Cards for Bus Stand Staff:
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| Hawkers
/ Conductors and other terminal staff are issued ID Cards
verified by their owners and SHO. These cards are affixed
on their clothes during their duty. |
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- Improvement in Lighting Conditions during Night:
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| Light
got improved at night than before. |
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| Coolies
are also made to wear their uniform during their duty. |
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| Rehri-Walas
are discouraged and are not allowed to stand either in
front of the stands or at the rear. |
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| Repeated
announcements through loudspeakers are made to caution
the passengers so that to make them aware of the criminals,
terrorists and also about their respective surroundings. |
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- Banners, Hoardings and Signboards:
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| Different
banners, hoardings and signboards are affixed around the
stands to caution the passengers. |
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- Better Interaction between Transporters and City
Police:
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| Repeated
meetings are held with the transporters and even with
their staff to brief them about how to keep an eye on
their surrounding to avert any untoward incident. |
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| Effectiveness
of CCTV System at General Bus Stand: |
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| The true
effectiveness can only be judged from prevention of terrorism
activities before they happen. There is a new wave of
terrorism after September 11 and fortunately by the Grace
of God so far no terrorist attack has targeted General
Bus Stand. Anyway to keep things effective following points
must be noted: |
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- The operator of the CCTV System must insure at all
times that all cameras are functioning and are being
recorded on Video Cassettes.
- The Video Cassette Record of atleast one week activity
of the General Bus Stand must be maintained at all
times.
- The viewing angles must be changed or adjusted with
assistance from Mondial Security Electronics staff
to keep all the important areas of General Bus Stand
in the eyes of the Cameras.
- The general public must not be allowed to enter
Monitoring Rooms and shown images of CCTV Cameras,
otherwise possible terrorists may identify blind spots
and plant bombs and other activities in the areas
which are not under observation.
- The observer in the monitoring room must be vigilant
and should keep an eye on the activity of General
Bus Stand and interact with security guards and patrolling
policemen to prevent lost luggage and other suspicious
activities.
- The CCTV System must be well advertised throughout
General Bus Stand to keep deterrence against terrorism.
- A new culture of Video Forensics must be developed
and promoted to use video cassettes as evidence and
extract valuable information from videos by image
manipulation and image processing.
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