Security audit of high footfall areas for I-Day

In the wake of increased incidents of violence across the globe and heightened threat perception, the Delhi police commissioner, Alok Kumar Verma, has directed his officials to carry out a security audit of high footfall areas in view of the Independence Day preparations in the national capital.

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

At a high-level meeting, Mr Verma directed that districts affected with heinous crimes should invoke MCOCA against organised gangs. In this context, he said that DCPs of Southeast, South, Southwest 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 “bad characters” involved in crime should be shared with both crime and special branch as a large number of them were involved in criminal activities. He also expressed his dissatisfaction over the way action was being taken against proclaimed offenders and directed that immediate steps should be taken to catch them.

Mr Verma has also directed the officers to conduct an audit of criminal syndicates involved in land grabbing. He told his officers to share information related to land grabbing with the economic offences wing. He added that activities of criminals involved in extortion cases during the last five years should be checked afresh.

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.

Mr 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 tenant and servant verifications. He told his men to link all the recovered cellphones with FIRs and to make efforts to restore the stolen devices back to their owners.