PCR van was 3 kms away when terror hit old delhi

The security personnel in the police control room (PCR) van, which was stationed near Gate Number 3 of the Jama Masjid, were busy getting the van’s flat tyres fixed when the attack took place on Sunday.

The security personnel in the police control room (PCR) van, which was stationed near Gate Number 3 of the Jama Masjid, were busy getting the van’s flat tyres fixed when the attack took place on Sunday.

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Around 11.20 am on Sunday, when the attack took place, there was no PCR van stationed at Gate Number 3 of the mosque. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the PCR van had gone to Daryaganj, around three kilometres away, to gets its flat tyres repaired.

Delhi Police have launched an internal enquiry into the Jama Masjid attack case, especially in view of the thin police presence around the mosque, when two Taiwanese media crew members were shot at by bike-borne assailants.

“We have to set our house in order and have launched an internal enquiry. The PCR van had gone to refill air in its tyres when the incident took place. But as soon as a call was made, other vans in the area were at the attack site within a couple of minutes,” said Kewal Singh, additional commissioner of police (PCR).
Only one policeman was present near the Jama Masjid gates when the assailants
struck.

On normal days, there is barricading at the mosque’s entrance points. On Sunday, there was none.

The gunmen who opened fire at the group reportedly took advantage of the fact that it was a holiday and there was no police presence at the spot. They managed to flee from the Chawri Bazaar site soon after the strike.

“There were no close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in the periphery of the mosque, pointing to (adequate) reconnaissance carried out by
bikers,” said a senior police officer.

The lone policeman who chased the bikers was also fired at. However, the officer said, “It seems they were novices and could not handle firearms properly.”