Delhi Underground

For the guests

The new Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) has a large fan following among policemen,journalists and the general public. A large number of visitors flock to his office everyday,making things chaotic. However,just to cater to all those who met the senior and much-respected IPS officer,a special room has been facilitated to accommodate all visitors and sofas have been refurbished.

Don’t blame the party

Some auto and taxi unions were on strike over demands for fare hike and other issues till last week. The Transport department had claimed in a press release that “all unions except a union having leaning towards saffron party joined the discussions”. The union,Bharat Mazdoor Sangh,claimed that it was offensive for the government to state that their alliance to a party was the reason for them continuing the strike. “Instead of doing something about our demands,the government is making this into a political agenda,” Rajinder Soni,a member of Bharat Mazdoor Sangh,said.

Contradictions

Revenue Department has removed the sub-registrar of Geeta Colony. Revenue Secretary Dharampal said the official was issued a warning,asking him to work efficiently,before he was removed from the post. “There were a lot of complaints about the working of the official,who was registering properties in a biased manner. The complaints continued even after the warning was issued,” a senior official attached to the office said. He added that the move was “administrative”. “He has been transferred and sent to headquarters,not suspended. There was nothing wrong with the functioning of the official,” the official said.

Disaster drills

After receiving a good response for the disaster mock drill held at the US Embassy last week,the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is now flooded with calls from other embassies for mock drills at their premises. The DDMA has also launched a disaster alert centre,which sends SMS alerts to all stakeholders like the police control room,fire brigades,ambulances,deputy commissioners of municipalities,administration,disaster management authorities and volunteers,urging them to respond to a disaster situation as soon as possible. The situations can mean a wall collapse,a building collapse,gas leak,fire,etc. The department is also planning to start the SMS alert service to the public,a senior official said. Other officials said the SMS alerts could trigger panic.

Baptism by fire

Ghaziabad and Noida are proving to be a baptism by fire for newly posted senior superintendents of police (SSP). Shalabh Mathur,posted as Noida SSP three weeks ago,had to quell violence that broke out in the industrial belt of Noida Phase-II. Two weeks ago,Preetinder Singh was posted as Gautam Buddh Nagar SSP and had to oversee investigations into a spate of alleged rape cases and an abduction. The new Ghaziabad SSP Nitin Tiwari too,had to look into a double murder that took place less than 150 metres from his residence. At a recent meeting,one police officer was heard saying,“These postings are a double-edged sword. With their proximity to Delhi,they are of greater prestige. But the downside is a huge number of journalists waiting to pounce on mistakes.”

No politics

Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila’s appeared before a city court for a six-year-old attempted suicide case. During the hearing,the judge said: “While her cause and resolve is admirable,this court must deal with the law and not political issues.”

Best left unsaid

In a recent case where the phone records of a senior BJP leader were hacked,police presented evidence to the court in a sealed cover. When the defence counsel asked for a list of persons whose call details may have been accessed by the accused,the judge said: “Even I am afraid of seeing that list.”