Ex-commandos enforce laws

Fed of being taken lightly, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has hired 26 ex-commandos on contract to enforce its laws across the Capital.

Fed of being taken lightly, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has hired 26 ex-commandos on contract to enforce its laws across the Capital.

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Clad in black from neck to toe, these former members of the National Security Guards, the Quick Reaction Team and other special forces, all aged between 30-40, have been, since January, taking on — among others — the parking mafia and encroachers on public land, who earlier thought the MCD’s enforcement cell was a pushover.

“We assign work depending on the gravity of the situation. The ex-servicemen have performed 60 operations so far, which includes removing illegal construction, removing illegal parking sites,” said Suman Majoomdar, director, enforcement cell, MCD.

“Once the work is completed a report is sent to the Lt. Governor.”

Ranjan Mukherjee, OSD to Lt. Governor, said, “Violation of all kinds has become a norm. There was a need for tough enforcement and the Lt. Governor wanted to pump in fresh blood in the enforcement cell to rein in unruly behaviour.”

The civic body also has an enforcement team in various departments but many a time the staff members get beaten up while performing their work deterring them to take action.

“A number of times our enforcement staff gets beaten while they try to remove say illegal parking sites. They don't even get police protection on time. These ex-army men have a high level of endurance and stamina and can work swiftly. They will provide protection to our staff too,” said a senior MCD official.

“These people are able to deal with miscreants in an effective manner,” he added.