Aftermath of Mumbai + Taking Camera around freely

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

I was denied entry to a mall yesterday because of my camera!

After the shootouts in Mumbai that left nearly 200 people killed, there is tightened security in all places where lot of people hangout. Bangalore is no exception. I gave a visit to Forum Mall, one of the well known hangouts in the city to buy something. Unlike the usual days when a security person standing at the gates would quickly let people pass after a superficial check, there were elaborate inspections and a long queue for security check.

My turn came after ten minutes of wait. I was frisked like everyone else is, and was directed to another person to have my bag checked. This man opened my bag, which had a laptop, a 17-40 lens and a rather large 100-400 lens attached to the camera. He looked at the 17-40 and could not figure out what equipment is it, but continued his search and found the camera.

"This is a camera?" he asked me, "do you have some photography program inside?"

I said no, and he asked me if I am coming here to shop. I nodded in affirmative. He then checked with this superior if cameras can be allowed inside. This guy quickly had a look at my bag and said 'professional cameras' are not allowed.

On a normal day, I would talk to him, try to explain how harmless a thing this is and why it is foolish not to let me in with the camera. I would have probably demanded to see the manager too and would try to prove my point. But now I get the feel that it would be better to make small sacrifices to ensure smooth security operations than obstruct their work and waste their time and mine. May be the time has arrived when we have to make small sacrifices for national security. I had to give in and go to another place to buy what I wanted, and the shops inside will have to do without my business. So I returned without saying a word and headed to another place.

On the way back, I found two policeman standing, and asked them if they do not allow cameras inside. They shrugged, indicating that it is up to the (private) security guards, but helpfully suggested that there is a luggage room which I could use. But I had no intent to leave all those expensive equipment in a luggage room, and decided to move on.