New Delhi, Sep 23 Two days after the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl at Astha Kunj Park here, the Delhi Police has intensified area-domination and patrolling operations across vulnerable public spaces, with officers focusing on parks, dark spots, subways, foot-over bridges and other locations where women may feel unsafe.
The Central Range of Delhi Police conducted coordinated Combing and Search Operations (CASO) across identified public spaces on Tuesday and Wednesday and apprehended 379 people under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, in addition to action taken under the Delhi Excise Act, COTPA, the Gambling Act, the BNSS, and the POCSO Act, officials said.
The operations aim to increase police visibility, prevent unlawful activities, and reclaim public spaces vulnerable to encroachment by miscreants or habitual offenders, they said.
The move comes following the alleged gangrape at Astha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Mandir on Monday evening. Officials said three men allegedly posed as policemen and raped a teenage girl, threatening her and her male friend.
The incident also brought renewed attention to security arrangements, lighting and police presence in and around public parks and other secluded areas.
In Darya Ganj, police checked five parks and apprehended 66 people under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. In the Jama Masjid area, police checked several parks and public spaces, taking action against 45 people under the same provision, as well as taking preventive action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
In the Kamla Market area, police checked multiple parks, including Minto Road Complex Park, Shivaji Park, DBG Park, Nehru Park and Shastri Park. Police detained 60 people under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, seized three vehicles and took action under the Delhi Excise Act and the BNSS.
In Patel Nagar, police checked five parks and apprehended 82 people under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act, in addition to preventive action under the Excise Act and the BNSS.
At Prasad Nagar, police proceeded with action against 23 people under Section 40(A) of the Delhi Excise Act, along with additional action under the Gambling Act and the Excise Act.
Officials said they also checked 33 bad characters during the coordinated operations.
Police teams simultaneously conducted security audits of public spaces to identify infrastructure-related vulnerabilities, including inadequate lighting and dark spots, broken fencing, encroachments, vulnerable entry and exit points and poorly secured subways and foot-over bridges.
Officials said police will inform the Public Works Department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and other civic agencies to take remedial action if they notice any drawback. Police said the exercise follows the broader “broken windows” approach, under which visible signs of disorder and neglect in public spaces are addressed alongside conventional policing to deter unlawful activity and improve public confidence.
Officials said 18 additional women constables have been posted to the Women Police Station in North District, while women-led “Jhansi” patrolling squads on pink scooters conducted intensive patrols in vulnerable areas.
Police have also stepped up patrols around educational institutions and other areas frequented by women.
In North Campus, women police personnel have been deployed at pink booths and around the college gates and adjoining roads. At the same time, students are being encouraged to contact police if they have any security concerns.
Similarly, women personnel have been deployed for patrolling in areas including Connaught Place, Mukherjee Nagar, Preet Vihar, Laxmi Nagar and Mehrauli during evening hours.
“Our objective is clear — public spaces belong to the public, and they cannot be allowed to become spaces dominated by miscreants or people indulging in unlawful activities. The present exercise is not merely a one-day checking exercise. It is a sustained area-domination programme to restore order, safety and confidence in every public space under the Central Range,” Joint Commissioner of Police, Central Range, Madhur Verma said.
He said police teams were taking preventive and legal action simultaneously.
“Wherever deficiencies require intervention by civic agencies, specific recommendations will be sent to the concerned departments. The focus is on sustained police visibility, prevention, and reclaiming public spaces for law-abiding citizens. The safety and confidence of women in public spaces will remain a particular priority,” Verma said.
(PTI News)
