City takes terror attack in its stride

First it was the floods, followed by the earthquake and then the riots, which left the city shaken for days on end. The restaurants and cinema halls had gone empty as terror haunted Ahmedabadis, but last week’s attack on Akshardham has evoked a different reaction from the city residents. The Sunday following the attacks was no different from any other, thus proving that the city has taken this attack in its stride.

Ahmedabadis have become so used to security checks that they have stopped carrying bags to multiplexes as it causes an inconvenience to the security personnel who have to check the bags too. Even as the guards frisked the youngsters, they were seen busy discussing everything under the sky, from the rising mercury levels to the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Hotels and restaurants continued to do brisk business on Sunday night, there was a good attendance at cinema halls and government offices had the usual rush on Monday. This Sunday night was no different for Ahmedabadis with many choosing to eat out, relax on bridges or watch movies.

A large number of people were seen relaxing on bridges over the Sabarmati river until late on Sunday night. It has been a practice for people to spend the evenings on bridges and despite the attack, not many seemed worried about security problems in the city after the attack. ‘‘The attack on Akshardham is unfortunate, but I do not think there is need to worry,’’ says Satish Vyas, who makes it a point to relax on Ellisbridge with his friends.

At restaurants in the city, the usual Sunday crowd was seen having fun. It did not seem as if people were apprehensive about their safety while going to public places. ‘‘There was no reduction in the crowd. People had to wait for their turn as they do every Sunday night,’’ said a larriwalla at Krishnabaug in Maninagar.

Other restaurants located along the Sarkhej-Gandhinagar highway, along Drive-In Road and other parts of the city too did business as usual. ‘‘It did not seem as if anybody was worried about their security. The rush was as usual on Sunday,’’ said a waiter at a restaurant in Satellite area.

Even at multiplexes and other cinema halls, the normal rush continued. People were seen lining up in front of cinema halls on Sunday and Monday. ‘‘The cinema hall was full of people and they did not seem to worry about their security, although security personnel were checking everyone with metal detectors,’’ said Nirav Mehtra, who watched the film Road on Sunday afternoon at City Gold multiplex along with his friends.

It was the same rush at the passport office, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Zilla panchayat building, Collectorate and other Central and State Government offices. Apart from the regular security arrangements, no special security arrangements were seen at these offices on Monday.

The fact that people have taken security issues after the riots in their stride was evident from the fact that most youth were ready with their mobile and wallet in hand and even their pockets were turned inside out so that security personnel didn’t have to spend much time frisking them.

Republished from The Indian Express