Volunteers to keep eye on terror at Sarojini Nagar, Lajpat may follow

To tackle terror threats at busy shopping markets like Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar in the city, Delhi Police on Friday roped in private volunteers to be their eyes and ears.

To tackle terror threats at busy shopping markets in the city, police on Friday roped in private volunteers to be their eyes and ears.

Delhi Police Swat commandos on alert as security beefed up for the upcoming Republic Day Celebrations at Select City Walk, Saket in New Delhi on Thursday. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo)

Volunteers in the Police Service Scheme have been made the ‘eyes and ears’ of the south district police. The 60 volunteers, who are mostly shopkeepers, have agreed to help the police keep an eye on any suspicious activity . A very high alert has been declared in the city after reports of terrorists planning attacks.

DCP (South) Prem Nath said that the volunteers would inform the police control room immediately if they notice danything suspicious. Police sources said that this idea of using volunteers as informants would be adopted at other market places too.

In the eventuality of a terror attack, the group would help other shopkeepers in evacuating the market place.

“Sarojini Nagar is one of the most vulnerable places. There was a bomb blast in the past too. We had written to the police several times that we would help them. This is a good thing. Apart from the 60 volunteers, we also asked other shopkeepers to be vigilant,” a member of the Sarojini Nagar market association told HT.

The volunteers will patrol the market during peak hours. Their activities, police said, would be monitored by a senior rank official, possibly at the rank of additional DCP.

Police officers say that the members were selected after a rigorous process during which their antecedents were checked thoroughly before they were allowed to join the team.

The volunteers, police said, would be provided a jacket and a badge which would make it easy for police to identify them during an emergency situation.

Lajpat Nagar market is likely to get a similar team soon, sources said.