In a move to ensure security in the national Capital, the Delhi Police has directed all the courier companies to make sure that the sender furnishes identification proofs such as ID card, ration card, voter identity card, etc. This is being done to check smuggling of contraband substances through mail. The Delhi Police has directed all the courier companies to carry out proper inspection of the goods they courier along with identification of the person who approaches them for these services in the national Capital.
Top sources told The Pioneer that the police have ordered the companies to crosscheck the antecedents of the person approaching them for the courier services from his or her respective company, organisation or office. The companies should thoroughly inspect the goods before accepting the packets and parcels booked for courier services. The order has also directed the companies to keep copies of identification documents like election card, ration card, PAN card or driving licence of all the persons who approach them for courier services for any future police investigations.
To ensure safety and security, the police have also directed the courier companies to install CCTV cameras for digital recording of all the persons approaching them. It has directed companies to immediately inform their nearby police stations about any suspicious courier sender.
The police have issued these directions through an order stating that any person violating it would be punished under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code. The Act makes it clear that any person violating it would face a simple imprisonment for a term which may extend up to one month along with a fine of Rs200. But if the disobedience of the order causes or trends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, one can also be imprisoned for a period of six months with a fine of Rs1,000.
These instructions were issued following reports that private courier services were generally booking goods or items to be transferred on the face value of the courier sender without verifying his or her address and thereby paying the way for unscrupulous person using these services for illegal activities. The police order would remain in force till August 31.
In its order, the police have said that there have been instances where criminals have used courier services to send incriminatory items, contraband and even dead bodies in the guise of the courier. The police further said it had also been observed that the record of the courier senders was not kept by the private companies or their agents engaged in this business as a result of which it had become difficult for the investigating agencies to identify the culprits behind such crimes.