CISF stops frisking, to profile people instead

When Karan Dogra ran through the entry checkpoint at the Botanical Gardens Metro Station to catch a train, he thought he would be called back by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, reprimanded and frisked.

When Karan Dogra ran through the entry checkpoint at the Botanical Gardens Metro Station to catch a train, he thought he would be called back by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, reprimanded and frisked.

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He was surprised when none of this happened.

The CISF has decided not to frisk people at Metro Stations.

“Frisking will not be done at entry checkpoints anymore. We will rely on profiling and suspicion,” said Rohit Katiyar, chief public relations officer, CISF.

“A friend of mine had a similar experience . When he asked why there was no frisking, he was told that people who looked 'gentlemanly' will not be frisked from now on, only those who looked suspicious will be,” said Shantanu Bhattacharya, a media professional.

According to Katiyar, the decision was taken to reduce travel time. “The Delhi Metro is a rapid transport system. Passengers spent a lot of time waiting to clear the security checkpoint. We want to reduce that. It makes sense to frisk people at the airport, not here,” he said.

But not many are happy with the decision. “The security will be compromised, that too right before the Commonwealth Games,” said B.L. Sharma, a Metro passenger.

A Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson said, “Security is a state subject and falls under the CISF. It is their decision to cancel frisking.”