The Delhi Police and security agencies went into a spin after a Hyundai Santro car with an Army sticker was reportedly stolen from the lodhi Garden area on Sunday afternoon around 2.30 pm. A search has been launched to locate the vehicle.
The vehicle - parked near the post office near lodhi Garden - belongs to Colonel Shalendra posted with AIIMS for a three -ear deputation, bearing two stickers: One issued by the Defence Services Officers Institute (DSOI) while the other sticker was issued by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with registration number (HR 51T 6646).
Police said the Army official had come to lodhi Garden with his family and he had parked the car at around 12 pm. However, when he returned to the parking lot near the post office, he was shocked as the car was missing. He informed police and a case was registered at lodhi Road police station.
The Delhi Police has sounded a red-alert and has also informed State police forces. A senior police officer said, "An alert has been sounded in the wake of the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath where French President Francois Hollande will be the Guest of Honour. Several police teams have been put on the job o locate the missing car."
The national Capital has been put on very high alert for the Republic Day celebrations. Central security agencies and the Delhi Police have activated security apparatus backed by Central para military forces (CPMFs). Elite Black Cat commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG) and commandos of CPMFs have been pressed into service to secure the areas in and around historic Rajpath. Thousands of men and officers of the Delhi Police will stand guard during the ceremony at Rajpath while NSG commandos will escort the marching contingents from Vijay Chowk to the Red Fort.
Earlier, security agencies had sounded an alert after a blue-beacon SUV (CH01GA2915) of a senior IPS officer was stolen in the wee hours on Wednesday last from the neighbouring Noida. " The official vehicle white Tata Safari with blue light of Inspector General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was stolen from Sector 23 Noida. The Delhi Police had asked the state police forces of all the states to share information in the event of this vehicle being traced." Then reports had surfaced that police were making all out efforts to track the vehicle in the wake of the recent Pathankot attack where terrorists from Pakistan had overpowered a Punjab police SP's similar vehicle to reach the IAF airbase before launching the deadly terror strike. Moreover, there have been instances in the past too when beacon-vehicles, including during the Parliament attack, were used to launch terror attacks.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said all DCPs have been asked to direct their personnel and local police to immediately locate the vehicle. "Several checking teams have been deployed and traffic officials have been briefed about the vehicle," he said.