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Games security in limbo: petty thefts reported
As taxpayers lament delays in execution of Commonwealth Games projects worth hundreds of crores and authorities dodge responsibility, petty thiefs appear to be having a field day in Delhi.
As taxpayers lament delays in execution of Commonwealth Games projects worth hundreds of crores and authorities dodge responsibility, petty thiefs appear to be having a field day in Delhi.
In less than two weeks, two cases of theft related to the Commonwealth Games, have been reported.
In the first incident, on August 29, the bicycle of Gurmeet Singh, a national-level cyclist, was allegedly stolen during test events held in Connaught Place.
The 10-km-stretch was heavily guarded by armed policemen posted every 50 metres.
After the theft, the entire police force of the Parliament Street police station has been pressed into action to trace the bicycle worth more than Rs 1 lakh.
"A cycle belonging to Gurmeet Singh was stolen during the test event on August 29. An FIR was lodged the same day," said V.N. Singh, assistant secretary, Cycling Federation of India.
"It seems like the job of an insider. Only participants could have accessed the area the bicycle was stolen from.
We have formed several teams to trace it," said a senior police officer.
On September 06, in the second reported case of larceny, an LCD screen was stolen from Hall Number 7 of the newly-constructed media centre at Pragati Maidan.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m., when the area was bustling with activity.
It's noteworthy here that the area is guarded by paramilitary forces and has three layers of security cordon.
It also has a separate venue commander of the rank of deputy commissioner of police stationed there.
"We have no information that the hall was broken into and then the screen was taken away. There was a lot of staff present in the premises. No one has seen the screen being taken away. Every gate is manned," said the officer.
"We have registered a case of theft in both cases," said V.A. Gupta, additional deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi).
Clearly, it seems that the Rs 539 crore spent in strengthening security for the Commonwealth Games, has failed to deter Delhi's burglars.
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