Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi (left) with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung. (TOI file photo by Sanjeev Rastogi)

Cops to be trained

Delhi Police headquarters with the mural of Mahatma Gandhi painted on its side. (Getty Images file photo)

NEW DELHI: The recent spurt in attacks on Delhi policemen is expected to lead to radical changes in the way Delhi Police patrols the city, especially in areas that are regarded to be crime prone. Equipment apart, policemen are likely to be imparted with physical training as well as psychological orientation for zero tolerance of criminals.A day after TOI highlighted how the criminals’ fear of the law-enforcers appears to have dipped in Delhi, the police brass called an urgent meeting in the morning to discuss various measures to ensure safety of policemen and retrieve the lost authority of the police. Home minister Rajnath Singh also met police commissioner BS Bassi and special commissioner Deepak Mishra to discuss the issue and the measures taken.The meeting was also attended by Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.While the minister asked the police to check on the gun-running racket in the capital, he also emphasized using technology to maintain law and order. Bassi briefed the minister on the status of the investigation into Monday’s killing of constable Jagveer. He also briefed him on the various measures being taken to tighten police patrolling.Bassi later said that directions have been given to all police stations to sensitize policemen on how to deal with criminal gangs. He said training would be given to the force on how to react to situations where the police is under attack. “The home minister has assured all help to Delhi Police in this regard,” he said.Sources said the police brass is expected to lay out detailed instructions for patrolling in crime-prone areas like outer, northeast and southwest districts of Delhi. The cops will identify the “dark spots” — the areas prone to crimes and attack on cops — and policemen will be extensively trained before they go out on patrol. This training will include real-life situations where cops are required to confront and corner criminals.Apart from this “useful and rigorous” training, sources added that proposals included arming policemen with more sophisticated weapons including weapons like Taser guns — which stuns the victim and can render him unconscious for a few minutes. The drill to detain a suspect — at gunpoint, if required — at a distance till reinforcements arrive is being perfected and the legal ramifications are being analyzed, sources said.Cops are also being told to use tyre-deflators to immobilize a suspect vehicle.Officers have pointed out that patrolling in groups of three or four in sensitive areas was a better option to ensure the safety of the patrols. “Several policing and patrolling techniques followed in the west are being analysed and will soon be implemented in keeping with the law here,” a special commissioner of police told TOI on Tuesday.While senior cops did not comment officially, sources said that the top cops had verbally conveyed to the lower constabulary that they need not fear repercussions if they have to use their weapon in the case of an attack. They have, in fact, been told to “retaliate appropriately” if their life was in danger or if they are targeted during patrolling or picket checking.