Delhi Police intensifies night patrolling after robbery incident

New Delhi: The Delhi Police detained more than 1,500 people for up to two hours and seized about 270 vehicles from its central district during an intensified night patrol to contain street crimes in the national capital, officials said on Tuesday.

The intensive campaign between 10 pm and 2 am Monday night came two days after a delivery agent and his associate were allegedly robbed of Rs 2 lakh at gunpoint by four motorcycle-borne men inside the busy Pragati Maidan tunnel. Seven people have so far been arrested in connection with the Saturday incident.

In the Central district alone, 1,587 people were detained under section 65 (persons bound to comply with the reasonable directions of a police officer) of the the Delhi Police Act to verify their particulars and whereabouts and 273 vehicles were seized, a senior police officer said.

The vehicles were seized under section 66 (police to take charge of unclaimed property) of the same act, he said.

Police said they were detained for not more than two hours to check their whereabouts and verify their particulars.

“The very purpose of this exercise was to enhance police visibility, instil sense of safety and security among the residents of the district and to deter the bad characters. For the purpose, an elaborate plan was chalked out and accordingly special pickets were placed at strategic locations, mobile squads were prepared for joint patrolling and special teams were prepared for foot patrolling,” the officer said.

All areas particularly secluded places, narrow streets and dimly lit stretches were covered by foot and mobile patrolling teams, he said.

During checking, sensitive pockets, listed criminals were specifically checked.

The drive was carried out on Monday from 10 pm to 2 am.

According to the police, action was also taken under relevant sections of the CrPC against “bad characters” and those disturbing peace.

Officers of all ranks were on the ground on Monday night with special emphasis on foot patrolling. The force was mobilised in all vulnerable areas of the district and verifications were carried out in the homes of “bad characters”, they said.