New Delhi, Sep 23 Resuming cycle patrolling, identifying dark spots and preparing a list of parks with non-functional CCTV cameras are among the measures outlined by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar in a fresh security review with district DCPs following the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park in southeast Delhi, officials said on Wednesday.
The move follows a security review after the incident at Astha Kunj Park, where the 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by three men on Monday evening.
Senior police officers said the spot where the incident allegedly took place did not have adequate lighting and there was no CCTV camera covering the area.
Around 24 hours after the incident, the police commissioner visited the park on Tuesday and reviewed the security arrangements. He subsequently held a meeting at police headquarters with special commissioners, joint commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) of all 15 districts and issued directions regarding security in parks and isolated areas.
Kumar has directed all district DCPs to identify locations where street lights are not functioning and prepare a list of parks with non-functional CCTV cameras, broken gates or walls and other security deficiencies, officials said.
The deficiencies will be brought to the notice of the concerned civic agencies for corrective action, they said.
As part of the security measures, several district police units have decided to restart cycle patrolling in parks. Station house officers have been directed to ensure foot patrols as well as cycle patrols, particularly during morning and evening hours, officials said.
A senior police officer said cycle patrols allow personnel to cover larger areas of parks and make their presence more visible to visitors.
Cycle patrolling was also introduced by Delhi Police in several parks in the past. In October 2017, five men posing as policemen allegedly robbed a couple at Buddha Jayanti Park in Chanakyapuri. Following the incident, cycle patrols were introduced in several parks and bicycles were provided to police personnel for patrolling.
The system, however, was gradually discontinued, a police source said, adding that patrolling in parks subsequently received less priority.
The commissioner has also directed beat and ground-level personnel to remain in regular contact with security guards deployed at parks and keep track of their presence, officials said.
Police personnel have been asked not to overlook security deficiencies noticed in parks, bus stands, roads or other isolated places. They have also been directed to regularly check CCTV cameras and other security equipment and inform the concerned departments about any malfunction, they said.
The focus is now on identifying vulnerable locations and addressing security gaps before an incident occurs, rather than limiting police action to responding after a crime.
(PTI News)
