Delhi Police induct fresh fleet of Parakram vans ahead of Independence Day

Police said that with the addition of the new vehicles, they could now secure most of the city’s important establishments that witness high footfall and almost all of Lutyens’ Delhi.

Delhi Police, in order to bolster their prepardness for any terror activities during the 70th Independence Day celebrations, pressed a fleet of 14 new Parakram vans in service on Friday.

Police said that with the addition of the new vehicles, they could now secure most of the city’s important establishments that witness high footfall and almost all of Lutyens’ Delhi. (Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

The force now has a total of 24 such vehicles at their disposal.

Police said that with the addition of the new vehicles, they could now secure most of the city’s important establishments that witness high footfall and almost all of Lutyens’ Delhi.

The first batch of these Parakram vans (10) was launched in May. “The experiment proved effective. The presence of these commando-manned vehicles not only serves as a major deterrent for terror elements, but they also help to show police presence near soft targets,” Amulya Patnaik, police chief told Hindustan Times.

But what make these new 14 vehicles different from those in the previous fleet are the special equipment provided to the commandos inside them.

“These commandos are already armed with MP-5 and AK-47 rifles. But now they also have been provided stunner guns and special batons to neutralize terror suspects even in close combats, body-worn cameras, anti-ballistic goggles to protect their eyes even in case of a blast, among other things,” said Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police spokesperson.

The new ones will be deployed at the Supreme Court, Sardar Patel Marg, Diplomatic Area, Delhi High Court, Khan Market, Parliament House, India Gate, L-G House, Sarojini Nagar Market, Lajpat Nagar Market, Akbar Road, Netaji Subhash Palace. Two of the vans will be reserved for emergencies.

“Almost all the important establishments in New Delhi region have been covered,” said Pathak. He said these vans will be deployed round-the-clock and will keep moving around for better policing and check on criminal activities.

Even the drivers deployed in these vans are NSG-trained. “Drivers deployed on these vans will be armed with small weapons and are trained by NSG in offensive/evasive driving with 360 degree turning and firing in mobile mode,” said the officer.