Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi, who was to accompany the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Monaco for an international conference, cancelled his visit in view of the prevailing situation in the city. Assembly bylections on three seats, Moharram and Guru Nanak Jayanti are the few reasons that weighed heavily upon the police chief as his presence was needed in the national Capital.
It was the call of the duty for the Delhi Police Commissioner that required his presence in the national Capital to lead the force, said a top Delhi Police official. Director, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Ranjit Sinha and Bassi were the designated top police officers for meet. While Sinha accompanied the Home Minister, Bassi decided to stay back sources in Delhi Police said. Bassi was to leave for the international conference with the Home Minister on Saturday night,A senior police officer said that Moharram falls on Tuesday and it requires force mobilisation to maintain peace and harmony in the national Capital. Shias have been up in arms for the removal of a nursery from Karbala and the same has witnessed many a tense situations. Intelligence reports suggest that antisocial elements may try to fan the sentiments of a particular community in the light of flare-up in East Delhi. Delhi Police has launched intense patrolling in the communally sensitive areas of the city to maintain peace and harmony, the official added.
Shia community takes out tazia processions across the city and they all converge at Karbala to mourn. Not only Delhi Police but the Central Para-Military Forces (CPMFs) are drafted to assist the city police in maintaining law and order in the national Capital.
Guru Nanak Jayanti is another big occasion for the city police that warrant heavy police bandobast (arrangement) as Sikhs take out processions in all part of the city a day before and it carries on till the next days. Apart from these two big security arrangements, Delhi Police is supposed to provide security to the candidates of the three assembly seats; Krishna Nagar, Mehrauli and Tughlaqabad and also ensure that the poll-process goes on peacefully. Bassi felt that his presence as the head of the force during Moharram and Guru Nanak Jayanti will boss the morale of the rank and file, hence he decided against the foreign visit, the official added.