Besides providing tight security, CISF secures crores in cash, valuables left by Metro users

NEW DELHI: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), besides its mandated responsibility to provide round the clock security in Delhi Metro, has secured and returned crores of assets, including Rs 2.8 crore in cash, left behind inside trains or on station premises by forgetful or hurried commuters since 2016.

A total amount of Rs 59,87,645 in cash was recovered by the CISF, a paramilitary force under Union Home Ministry, from January 1 to June 30 this year in the metro and was returned to its owners through the station controllers of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), government data said.

The amount was Rs 81,04,602 in 2018, Rs 70,73,802 in 2017 and Rs 75,15, 537 in 2016. Besides cash, the CISF recovered other valuable assets including cheques or drafts, foreign currency, laptops, gold and silver ornaments, cameras, watches, mobile phones, tablets and i-Pods worth lakhs of rupeees left behind by passengers between January 1, 2016 and June 30 this year.

Of the total cash recovered this year, the CISF found Rs 32,91,939 in January, Rs 1,06,009 in February, Rs 35,348 in March, Rs 48,744 in April, Rs 4,47,534 in May and Rs 3,47,144 in June. The CISF's 12,000 troopers, specially deputed in Delhi Metro for its security, also recovered cheques or drafts worth Rs 2.25 crore, foreign currency worth Rs 85,866, 65 laptops, 12 gold ornaments, 15 silver ornaments, nine cameras, 34 watches, 129 mobile phones. and two tablets till June 30 this year.

In 2018, the CISF recovered cheques and drafts over Rs 1,12 crore, foreign currency worth Rs 1,06,046, 140 laptops, 43 gold ornaments, 27 silver ornaments, 27 cameras, 58 watches, 329 mobile phones, seven tablets and one i-Pod. In 2017, it recovered cheques and drafts over Rs 4,84,477, foreign currency worth Rs 5,31,978, 130 laptops, 25 gold ornaments, 567 silver ornaments, 18 cameras, 110 watches, 364 mobile phones, 18 tablets and three i-Pods.

CISF's Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh said the job of his force's personnel is not easy as they handle a footfall of around 30 lakh passengers every day but they try to gain the people's trust, resulting in recovery of Rs 59.87 lakh in cash in just first six month of this year. Asked if the CISF gets praise from people for returning their assets back to them, Singh said: "Yes. It is very encouraging for our personnel. We receive people's feedback on Twitter and on email." He said that the force offer rewards to these personnel who help Metro passengers in any way.