Delhi

Delhi Police girds up for Aug 15

Rajesh Kumar

In wake of violent incidents across the world and heightened threat perceptions,  Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma directed officials to carry out a security audit of high footfall areas for August 15 Independence Day preparations in the national Capital.

He has directed his officers to promulgate Section 144 under CrPC regarding verification of tenants, cyber cafes and guest houses. The top cop has also directed that all CCTV cameras should be made operational in advance. He has instructed that all the staff to be deployed for the ID preparations should undergo advanced firing practice and each of them be  issued weapons which they would be using during their practice session.

At a high-level meeting, Verma said districts affected with heinous crimes  should invoke MCOCA  against organised gangs. In this context, he said DCPs  of South-East, South, South-West and Outer districts should pay special attention and similar efforts should be made to identify and initiate proposals  of those who  are fit to be  booked under the National Security Act.

The top cop has given standing directions to his officers to expedite  arrests of all absconding and active criminals. He told his men to make systematic plans to gather intelligence about absent 'Bad Characters'  and make concerted efforts  to arrest them.  He said that the list of active BCs involved in crime should be shared with both crime and special branch  as a large number of  them were  involved in criminal activities.

Also, he expressed his dissatisfaction over the way action was being taken against proclaimed offenders and directed that immediate steps should be taken to  catch them.

Apart from law and order issues, the top cop also deliberated upon a series of issues ranging from sensitising heads of institutions about  anti-ragging campaigns to timely disposal of  references specifically received  from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Raj Niwas.

He directed his officers to carry out surprise checks and sensitise heads of institutions and wardens on anti-ragging steps. He has ordered  deployment of foot patrolling, picket staff and PCR vans  in and around  educational institutions. He also advised his men  to organise counselling  sessions and signature campaigns such as "Say No To Ragging" on a priority.

Verma told the officers to deploy all the executive staff  working  in ministerial jobs for operational duties. Also, he issued directions for introduction of providing  online registration of services for  senior citizens  and for  tenant and servant verifications.