Can Delhi’s Hauz Khas Cafés Thwart A Dhaka-Like Terror Attack?

Last weekend, in one of the deadliest attacks in Bangladesh, gunmen held multiple hostages in Dhaka’s Holey Artisan café, killing 22 people. Why Holey Artisan Café? Well, because it is an upscale restaurant, frequented by foreigners, diplomats, successful businessmen and politicians. Should what happened in Holey Artesan unfold in any café in Delhi’s upmarket Hauz Khas Village area, how prepared are all the stakeholders, to avert a similar tragedy.

Are We Prepared?

So I decided to visit Hauz Khas Village – Delhi’s hub of cafés and restaurants that witness huge footfall and a lot of foreigners as patrons. The purpose was to check what were the safety and security arrangements. What I found out didn’t surprise me at all. But, it definitely got me worried.

“There has never been an attack in the village and it will never ever happen, so we don’t need to worry,” a response I got from owners and staff at most cafés and restaurants.

An attack in Hauz Khas village is utopian. Oh, sorry, distopian. The village has never been attacked. No reason why it would in future. The ISIS/ISIL are only going to target France, Germany and the US. They won’t mess with countries like China and India. 

Manager, Hauz Khas Social

Next stop was Raasta, another popular bar and restaurant. The employee was amused when I asked him about emergency exits. This is what he said:

There are two doors. But, no emergency exit. We do have an open area so in case of an emergency, like a terrorist attack, people could jump off from there and save themselves.

Employee, Raasta 

We have security guards who frisk people at the entrance. We don’t have a metal detector, though. I don’t have any information on emergency protocols to be followed during a terror attack. Why don’t you should speak to my manager? 

Employee, Levels 

What are the counter terrorism measures? What about evacuation? Is the staff trained in terror response. What are the safe routes? First aid and medical kits? Emergency plans? No one seemed to have an answer. While this was the attitude of those running the shops and the eateries, customers on the other hand sounded worried.

Hauz Khas Village is crammed and not at all safe. The maze like buildings, the narrow lanes. Most places have shared entrances and exits. In case of an attack, there’s going to be chaos. People are going to find it difficult to escape. Most likely, people are going to get trapped. 

There’s only one checkpoint which is at the entrance of the Hauz Khas village – the only place where cops patrol. Even that doesn’t help. They are barely able to keep drunkards away, let alone the terrorists.

The immediate response to a terrorist attack is to run and find a safe place. In crammed up places like here, there’s no way out. 

Shouldn’t we be worried?

While India has not been affected much by the pro-ISIL activities as yet, the group’s influence is evident in the country. Shouldn’t India be worried? Shouldn’t the attack on Holey Artisan serve as a warning to all?