Post Peshawar attack, Indian schools beef up security but is it fool proof?

Acting promptly on Centre’s advisory, a large number of Delhi schools on Thursday morning sent out text messages to parents of students, elaborating enhanced security measures to avert any Peshawar-like incident where terrorists had attacked a school, killing 141 on 16 December.

The security guidelines ranged from requesting parents not to visit the school without prior intimation or create a crowd inside school premises, to carrying proper identification while collecting their wards from school, seeking appointment to meet school staff, etc.

The text messages came as a relief to many but the vital question is if schools in India are possible terror targets at all.

“Yes, terror outfits can target a school, because it’s one of the easiest routes for them to take students hostage and negotiate with the government on their demands. Moreover, they will get maximum publicity besides creating terror, which is the basic objective of any terrorist or insurgent group,” said counter-terrorism analyst Anil Kamboj.

However, experts point out why the Peshawar incident cannot be replicated in India, when it comes to attacking a school. “Though it’s unforgivable and shocking, it was an isolated incident. The attack was unleashed with a specific motive — to avenge Pakistan army’s atrocities in North Waziristan. In India, the motive and modus operandi would be different,” said Kamboj.

Meanwhile, the station house officers (SHOs) in-charge of police stations in various locations in Delhi held a meeting with the management of schools under their jurisdiction and apprised them with the guidelines to be followed.

“We had a meeting with the SHO of our area on Wednesday on security issue. We’ve already informed all the parents about safety measures implemented by us through SMS, requesting them for cooperation,” Sardar Patel Vidyalaya management told Firstpost.

The management of Modern School, Barakhamba added, “We’ve strengthened our security in school and the same has been intimated to parents of our students as well.”

Mahua Venkatesh, a parent, who has received an SMS from her son’s school, said, “Yes, I’ve received an SMS from school management informing that the school has tightened its security and parents shouldn’t worry. Given the situation, the security has to be upgraded. It is sheer luck that nothing untoward has happened yet in our schools.”

But, parents in Mumbai or Hyderabad — the cities that have earlier been targets of terror attacks, haven’t received any such advisory from schools. “No, I haven’t received any information from my daughter’s school regarding security,” said Priya Nimbalkar, a Mulund resident.

However, a section among parents and guardians has questioned the viability of such safety measures in schools.

“A school should have a general safety and security in place, and it should be ensured that no outsider can enter school premises or interact with the students or take them out, without the knowledge of the school. But, simultaneously over-security and regulations may dissuade a parent in urgency to contact school staff. The schools can use it as an excuse,” said Indranil Basu, a worried parent in Delhi. The All India Federation of Parents-Teachers’ Association (AIFPTA) alleged that such security advisories were never implemented in government-run schools.

Even if security is tightened, are the schools capable of dealing with such a crisis?

“But, can a school’s security arrangement prevent terrorists or insurgents from barging in?” questioned Venkatesh.

“It’s practically not possible for the schools to have a fool-proof security against any kind of terror attack. Even, if a school provides such kind of armed security, the cost would have to be borne by the students, which will make the education very expensive. Instead, the government should ensure that no panic is created, and focus on nation’s overall internal security,” remarked Mumbai-based Anuj Kumar Pandey, vice president of AIFPTA.

“Despite high security in place, the terrorists attacked our Parliament in 2001. The educational institutions should be kept under surveillance and invisible security. Only the government can do this task. A heavy security deployed outside a school shall have a negative impact on students and general public. Even without barging into a school, it’ll automatically serve the purpose of terrorists, which is to create a fear psychosis among masses,” added Kamboj.