Wireless system to enhance security

Ahead of Republic Day, the Delhi police has pulled up its socks to avoid any untoward incidents. To enhance the security mechanism, the police has come up with a wireless integrated public address (Wipa) system. The police said that Wipa would help them manage crowded places in the national capital. The official said that WIPA was installed at 31 crowded places in the national capital and 13 major Metro stations. The official said that Wipa was set up at popular markets like Lajpat Nagar, INA market, South Extension, Nehru Place, M Block in Greater Kailash, Connaught Place, and at Metro stations like Mandi House, Inderlok, Welcome and Netaji Subhash Place, besides other crowded areas that include Ajmeri Gate, Ballimaran, Red Fort, Azadpur, Bhogal, Seelampur market and Tilak Nagar. “This is a centralised public address system.

Through this system, announcements can be made centrally from the police control room to be heard at all the places simultaneously, or even selectively, with a provision to make announc ments if the situation warrants,” the official said.

Speaking to this newspaper, Delhi police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said, “Not just on the ground, the security arrangements even in air will be like never seen before.” He said that the police will keep a vigilant eye on drones, which have been classified as a major threat to security. This issue was also discussed with neighbouring police in a recently held Inter-State Coordination Meeting. Another police official said that about 200 digital cameras were installed at strategic locations in and around Rajpath which can capture minute details. He said no fly zone will be imposed on in and around Rajpath on January 26.

The police has also deployed a special squad for security purposes in the national capital, called the Dangri Commandos. The squad has earned this name as they wear Dangri, a special kind of garment made using only a single piece of cloth. These commandos were trained at the Police Training College, Jharoda Kalan. The official said that police personnel have also been deployed in plainclothes at various markets to identify suspects. “After the Pathankot terror strike, our officials have told us to be alert twenty four hours. We are also taking help of other security agencies. In the recent past, we have conducted a series of mock drill to check the preparedness of agencies like fire brigade, cat ambulance, CISF and NSG commandos. These drills were conducted at various crowded places and at many metro stations,” the official said.

Meanwhile, all police stations, offices of the assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to keep one emergency team in reserve. The teams shall comprise especially trained personnel who shall only act in cases of emergency and not engage in routine law and order affairs till January 26, the official said.

Crime mapping for the entire city was recently conducted by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, who have been tasked with keeping an eye on criminal elements, especially the ones associated with small-time gangs in Delhi-NCR or with previous involvement in gunrunning, said the official.

Delhi Police also received input about presence of key members of Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit in the national capital and the Special Cell has been asked to keep an eye out for operatives of terror outfits and their movements. Four youths having alleged IS links from were also arrested from Haridwar district in Uttarakhand for planning to attack Haridwar-bound trains and strategic locations in the national capital.