‘Risk allowance’ needed,says Special Cell

In their proposal,the Special Cell has said that their counterparts in anti-terror units of other states as well as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are eligible for the allowance.

“The policemen in other states who work under the anti-terror units are eligible for a risk allowance which varies between 40-50 per cent of their salaries. Why isn’t the Delhi Police eligible for any such allowance?” said a senior police officer.

In 2008,Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was killed during an encounter at Batla House in South Delhi with alleged members of the Indian Mujahideen.

In the past eight months,the Special Cell has busted a module of a homegrown terror outfit,the Indian Mujahideen,and arrested more than ten of its members. The officers also recovered around 5 kg of explosives from a car in Ambala district of Haryana.

“There is always a risk whenever we go for an operation. We do not know what the terrorists have in store for us. We risk our lives to catch militants and terrorists and the government should do this much for us,” said another officer.

Police said the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police is entitled to a 40 per cent allowance and it varies for other state police units.”

“We have sent the proposal and are awaiting the MHA’s nod,” said the officer.

The Delhi Police had stopped granting “out of turn” promotions to its officers during the tenure of former commissioner Y S Dadwal,which reportedly prompted them to join elite units like the Special Cell and Crime Branch.”

“Our job requires us to do operations involving high risks,sometimes we pursue a case for months. The risk factor is always there,” said the officer.