Security arrangements at the Capital's Civic Centre are back under the scanner with the recent theft of 11 computer hard disks from the headquarters of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on July 14. SDMC filed a police complaint against unknown persons for theft on the 23rd floor office of the department on July 22.
Crucial records of the education department of SDMC went missing after hard disks, processors and RAMs from at least 11 computers belonging to officials ranging from assistant deputy director (education), deputy education officers and lower divisional clerks were stolen.This is not the first case of hard disk theft at the Civic Centre. The hard disks of over a half a dozen computers had been stolen in the past and a police complaint had also been filed, but the hard disks are yet to be traced. Moreover, the premises are not monitored by CCTV cameras either.
An order though was issued in June this year restricting entry of people into the building, especially on weekends and holidays. "A 10-point order was issued on June 6 about the standard procedure followed by the caretakers and the security guards during the weekends and holidays. The order came after several departments brought to the notice of HQ officials about computer peripherals being stolen," an official said. While a case has been registered at Kamla Nagar police station on the complaint of the civic body, insider role is not being ruled out.
"The education department employees worked on these computers on Saturday (July 13) through the day till 6.45 pm. The theft came to light on Monday. Several important data of the department was stored on these computers," the Corporation said in the complaint to the police. Sources said the hard disks contained some crucial documents and data pertaining to mid-day meals, purchase of school uniforms, books and desks and several other tender documents. Officials are however, in the process of preparing a dossier of documents missing.