Tight vigil at Metro stations to ensure crime-free Diwali

NEW DELHI: During Diwali, many people from different states living in the Capital head to their native places to celebrate Diwali. To reach the railway stations, these people prefer taking the Delhi Metro.

Chances are high that travellers get their pockets picked at the crowded Metro stations or during the journey, which can dampen their festive mood.

To avert such criminal activities, Delhi Police have heightened the vigil in Metro stations. Police sources said they are also keeping a tab on the gangs involved in petty crime in Metro.

Sources told Millennium Post that they have especially heightened security at Metro stations which are located near railway stations such as Anand Vihar, New Delhi and Old Delhi stations.

The reason behind heightening the security is to ensure that passengers prefer taking the Metro to reach railway stations.

During the festive season, petty crimes, especially pick pocketing and theft, are seen to be on the rise.

Sources further claimed that in more than 10 stations, which boast of higher

footfall than the rest of the stations, security has been made more robust. These include Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate and Central Secretariat, among others.

"We had a meeting with CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), after which security was heightened," said a police official.

Recently, Delhi Police had identified 121 criminals who were involved in multiple offenses in the Delhi Metro network. The list prepared by the city police also named gangs active in Delhi Metro and were arrested for theft cases.

During the Diwali rush, police also keep eyes on the movements of criminals involved in petty crimes.

"We have identified some gangs, which include women gangs, and are keeping a close eye on their activities," said a police official.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro) Pankaj Singh said they are taking every effort to curb crime in their jurisdiction.

"We have deployed our teams at various points and all of them are on alert during the festival season," said the DCP.

The police data claimed that they have arrested more than 500 criminals involved in crime in Delhi Metro.

However, more than 10,000 cases of theft have been reported this year in the Metro.