This is an archive article published on December 5, 2015
Cops unleash ‘Cobra’ on crime
Sources said Central Cobra team came to the aid of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday afternoon when some protesters gheraoed him outside gate no-3 of Delhi Secretariat.
The ‘Central Cobra’ team was born out of the necessity to fight street crimes. (Express Photo)
Policing in Central Delhi has a new arm, swift and coordinated for fighting street crime and intended to be particularly venomous for carjackers, robbers and chain snatchers. Meet “Central Cobra”, a special 30-member team of police officials on motorcycles. What started as a pilot project in select areas was extended and a fortnight later, police say it is paying off.
“At a crime review meeting, DCP (Central) Parmaditya asked Additional DCP Sagar Singh Kalsi to form a strategy to fight street crimes. Kalsi got his inspiration from reading about highway patrol agency of Kansas, a midwestern US state. They had created a force of 10 motor vehicle inspectors, forerunners of Kansas troopers, to counter bank robberies and crime spree in 1920s and 1930s. The idea was pitched and gave birth to Central Cobra,” said a source.
Each SHO in Central district was asked to provide two personnel and a motorcycle for the team and 30 vulnerable spots were identified, said sources. The tactics of bike-borne criminals were also assessed and “Central Cobra” began doing the rounds, added the sources.
Parmaditya said, “We later decided to form Central Cobra to curb street crimes and maintain law and order.” He added the team’s members had been asked to reach any spot when required.
Sources said Central Cobra team came to the aid of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday afternoon when some protesters gheraoed him outside gate no-3 of Delhi Secretariat. The team stepped in as other police personnel of the district were busy with security arrangements at Feroz Shah Kotla.
Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More