Delhi Police to keep eye on own men with two I-cards

The Delhi Police would be keeping a hawk's eyes on all the Commonwealth Games venues — even if it means keeping a check on its own men. Vijaita Singh reports.

The Delhi Police would be keeping a hawk's eyes on all the Commonwealth Games venues — even if it means keeping a check on its own men.

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All policemen would be required to carry two-identity cards: A biometric one and an accreditation pass issued by the Organising Committee (OC).

The biometric cards cannot be cloned and would identify the cardholder with the help of irises details. But there is a glitch: As the policemen have not sent their details yet, the biometric card system can run into trouble.

This has forced senior officers to send a warning to their men to furnish personal details as soon as possible. Around 20,000 policemen would be posted at all Games venues and the Delhi Police is preparing a biometric card for all of them.

The plan that was in the pipeline for almost two years is finally being implemented ahead of the Games.

A card reader placed at all the entry and exit points will identify the policemen with their biometric cards.

"There are slim chances of impersonation too. To rule out that possibility, we would ensure that no policeman is allowed an entry without the biometric card. The tenders were floated last month and the cards are in the process of being made," said a senior police officer.

In the past, there have been several incidents where alleged criminals used Delhi Police identity cards to commit a crime or gain entry into a sensitive location. "We will carry out our own random security checks but still someone might sneak in. No policeman would be allowed entry if he does not have both the cards," said the officer.