HYDERABAD: The next time you call up a police officer on his cell phone in this hi-tech city, you'll be greeted with an "anti-terror" caller tune.
Well, that's part of a range of initiatives being taken by the Hyderabad Police in an attempt to raise awareness among the members of the public on terror attacks, a year after three deadly bomb blasts rocked the city.
"We want to reach out to people through an informal campaign to create awareness among every citizen to take care of ten square feet of area around them," Detective Department DCP R S Praveen Kumar said.
"The idea is that every citizen should be conscious of his surrounding areas and report to the police on anything suspicious. We are asking people not to be silent," he added.
What's more is that a caller can also download the "anti-terror" ringtones available in both Telugu and English by just pressing the star button on the mobile phone.
The ring tones are intended to convey to people the importance of contacting the police when they come across some unattended objects and during any emergency situation.
"We are sensitising the people on terror acts. Public participation is also required in such initiatives," Hyderabad City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao said.
Messages such as "Be watchful", "Each One-Watch One", "Anything doubtful, report to us" and "Dial-100" are on display already on scores of hoardings dotting the skyline of this hi-tech city.
After introducing the caller tunes, the Hyderabad Police are working on launching another initiative of sending terror alert messages on mobile phones.
"We are talking to telecom companies asking them to provide one SMS free of cost on counter terror to its subscribers at least once a week," Praveen Kumar said.
Not to stop here, the Hyderabad City Police website 'hyderabadpolice.gov.in' would soon sport a new look, giving comprehensive information on anti-terror campaigns launched by the department, Kumar said.
The city police are also planning to come out with an animation movie series for kids to enable the tiny tots learn on anti-terror awareness, he said.
"We are also initiating on another innovative method, in the website, 'terror-signal' informing people by messages on how they can identify terrorists," the police official said.
"You notice something suspicious but chose to remain silent. After the blast, you feel guilty for not informing police. To avoid the guilt, we ask them to be aware through 'terror-signal' messages," he said.
In addition to these innovative moves, the police department has also launched tenant verification drive and given a set of instructions to cyber cafes.
Unless each citizen is made aware of such methods, it is difficult to fight terror elements, Kumar said.
An anti-terror audio CD 'Voice against Violence' played through public address system for the past one month in Telugu, English and Hindi has proved to be a hit among the people.
Soon the disc will also be played in all buses, including inter-state and inter-district services, the official said.
