Probe on as second fire incident reported at Delhi Police Malkhana this month

“A police team has also been deployed around the pit to nab the culprit. Due to the poor fencing, it is suspected that some persons set the vehicles on fire,” a police officer said, pointing at the possibility of fire due to inflammable materials in the yard, including the vehicles’ fuel tanks and CNG cylinders.

On April 6, a fire broke out at the same yard in which at least 345 vehicles were gutted, including 260 two-wheelers and 85 cars. The next day, a patrolling team from the local police station in Sonia Vihar apprehended a minor who had allegedly set the vehicles on fire to steal burnt aluminium and copper, which can be sold in the market, the police said.

The police suspected a similar gang was behind Friday’s fire. A case has been registered at Sonia Vihar police station under section 326F (fire by mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Malkhana yard, surrounded by barbed wire, is divided into separate pits for all 15 police districts of Delhi. Each pit is overseen by at least two policemen — a constable and a head constable — from the respective district.

The concept of a centralised Malkhana came into force in 2012 to decongest police stations, officials said. As per procedure, vehicles seized in a case remain with the police as long as they are considered case property. Once the case is concluded, these vehicles are auctioned in bulk, they added.