Delhi Police overhauls anti-terror unit, brings in four DCPs to oversee operations
The Special Cell was set up in 1986 to detect, avert, and investigate terrorism-related cases and organised crime in the city
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The four DCPs will report to the Special Commissioner of Police through the Additional Commissioner of Police of the Special Cell. (File Photo)In a major revamp of its anti-terror unit, the Delhi Police has restructured the Special Cell by appointing four officers of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank to oversee operations across its ranges and other divisions.
According to an order issued by the Police Headquarters on August 30, DCP Manishi Chandra, a former Officer on Special Duty to previous Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, will oversee the Counter Intelligence (CI) and Counter Terrorism (CT) operations.
Newly appointed DCP Krishan Kumar will look after the Southwestern Range, Northern Range and CSS (City Suspect Surveillance) of the Special Cell. Kumar was transferred to the unit from the Fourth Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police, recently.
DCP Aalap Patel will be in charge of Headquarters, Southern Range, MAC (Multi-Agency Centre) and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) units.
DCP Amit Kaushik will be in charge of New Delhi Range, Eastern Range and the SIT unit, as per the order.
These four DCPs will report to the Special Commissioner of Police through the Additional Commissioner of Police of the Special Cell, the order further stated.
The Special Cell was set up in 1986 to detect, avert, and investigate terrorism-related cases and organised crime in the city. It had Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli Police Service (DANIPS) level officers as DCPs. They would report to the Joint Commissioner or Special Commissioner.
Over the past few months, the Special Cell has seen transfers in its lower ranks. In March, around 15 inspectors and 20 sub-inspectors were transferred to other units from the Special Cell.
Later, the force’s then Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora announced its restructuring by assigning two Additional Commissioners of Police to look after five ranges and divisions.
In 2021, the then Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana appointed three Indian Police Service (IPS) officers for each range and the CI unit. Asthana had said the cell — which had three DANIPS officers — would get new ideas and perspectives with their induction.
According to the latest order, the cell’s operational units and zones will have one IPS and three DANIPS officers as DCPs.
The cell is yet to get its full-time Special CP after 1991-batch IPS officer Vivek Gogia retired on July 31.
Currently, 1994-batch IPS officer Rajesh Khurana (Special CP of DPHCL) has been given additional charge of the unit.
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