Delhi Police dilemma: to mount or not
7 May 2012 2:39 AM GMT
It has 55 horses in its unit; each horse costs Rs 50,000 every month in maintenance. It has around 100 specifically trained policemen, ready to mount and ride. But, the unit is seldom deployed.
Delhi’s mounted police unit, in other words, is a waste of resources.
Delhi Police sources told Millennium Post that in a year, the trained horses, which are the fulcrum of this mounted police unit, are used just twice or thrice and it takes lakhs of rupees and huge manpower to maintain the department.
‘Now, these horses are more or less used for ceremonial purposes such as Republic Day and Independence Day, but they have to be taken care of throughout the year, which is an unnecessary burden to the police department,’ said a senior police officer.
According to him, it makes sense to disband the department and hire horses from the Army, which has a greater need for such an unit, as and when needed. In fact, more than two years ago, one of Delhi Police’s former commissioners realised this and sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). However, the matter was not taken up by his successor and the unit drags on with no vision.
‘The former police commissioner, YS Dadwal, considered the idea of dissolving the unit and sent a letter to MHA. However, his successor, the present Police Commissioner, B K Gupta, has simply wished the issue away and the department continues to wait,’ the senior Delhi police official added.
As of now, the officials are in a catch-22 situation. On the one hand, unit has an historical value attached to it – mounted police was formed in 1930. On the other, it costs the department a lot unnnecessary expenditure.
The sanctioned strength of the mount unit in the Delhi Police is 95, which is headed by a Sub Inspector (SI). The SI is the overall in charge, including the maintainance of the horses as well as their deployment as and when needed.
In 2005, mounts were used for law and order duties for a total of 10,173 hours but now the situation has changed. The hustle and bustle of vehicles on roads place a great strain on the horses, told a police constable, deputed at provisioning and logistics department, located at old police line (OPL).
As of now, 55 horses are available with Delhi Police, which are deployed in 11 places comprising some of the districts and units such as Police Training College.
Earlier, the mount unit was basically used for law and order duties, patrolling, duties of VVIP arrangements, and sports activities. But, over the years, the requirements have changed, said an officer of the mounted police.
Interestingly, when contacted, R K Jha, Deputy of Commissioner of Police, in fact says that an increase in the number of horses would be of great help to the police. According to him, the horses are not standing at the stable, idling, but are deployed everyday.
‘At least, 15 horses are in provisioning and logistics units, 16 in Bela Farm, five in Parliament Street, five in Delhi Cantonment, four in Shahdara. The rest are deployed are sent to places as and when they are required,’ said Vijay Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
At least Rs 50,000 per month is being spent on maintenance of a horse, associated with the mounted police. Every horse gets one or two constables to take care for their food and lodging, added Kumar.
He, however, refused to comment on the proposal by the previous CP to disband the unit.
Delhi’s mounted police unit, in other words, is a waste of resources.
Delhi Police sources told Millennium Post that in a year, the trained horses, which are the fulcrum of this mounted police unit, are used just twice or thrice and it takes lakhs of rupees and huge manpower to maintain the department.
‘Now, these horses are more or less used for ceremonial purposes such as Republic Day and Independence Day, but they have to be taken care of throughout the year, which is an unnecessary burden to the police department,’ said a senior police officer.
According to him, it makes sense to disband the department and hire horses from the Army, which has a greater need for such an unit, as and when needed. In fact, more than two years ago, one of Delhi Police’s former commissioners realised this and sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). However, the matter was not taken up by his successor and the unit drags on with no vision.
‘The former police commissioner, YS Dadwal, considered the idea of dissolving the unit and sent a letter to MHA. However, his successor, the present Police Commissioner, B K Gupta, has simply wished the issue away and the department continues to wait,’ the senior Delhi police official added.
As of now, the officials are in a catch-22 situation. On the one hand, unit has an historical value attached to it – mounted police was formed in 1930. On the other, it costs the department a lot unnnecessary expenditure.
The sanctioned strength of the mount unit in the Delhi Police is 95, which is headed by a Sub Inspector (SI). The SI is the overall in charge, including the maintainance of the horses as well as their deployment as and when needed.
In 2005, mounts were used for law and order duties for a total of 10,173 hours but now the situation has changed. The hustle and bustle of vehicles on roads place a great strain on the horses, told a police constable, deputed at provisioning and logistics department, located at old police line (OPL).
As of now, 55 horses are available with Delhi Police, which are deployed in 11 places comprising some of the districts and units such as Police Training College.
Earlier, the mount unit was basically used for law and order duties, patrolling, duties of VVIP arrangements, and sports activities. But, over the years, the requirements have changed, said an officer of the mounted police.
Interestingly, when contacted, R K Jha, Deputy of Commissioner of Police, in fact says that an increase in the number of horses would be of great help to the police. According to him, the horses are not standing at the stable, idling, but are deployed everyday.
‘At least, 15 horses are in provisioning and logistics units, 16 in Bela Farm, five in Parliament Street, five in Delhi Cantonment, four in Shahdara. The rest are deployed are sent to places as and when they are required,’ said Vijay Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
At least Rs 50,000 per month is being spent on maintenance of a horse, associated with the mounted police. Every horse gets one or two constables to take care for their food and lodging, added Kumar.
He, however, refused to comment on the proposal by the previous CP to disband the unit.
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