3 Delhi Police personnel suspended for security lapses

NEW DELHI - Cracking down on slackness in security, Delhi Police have suspended three constables posted at two Commonwealth Games venues — the Karni Singh Shooting Range and the Thyagraj Stadium — for security lapses, an official said here Friday.

Two constables were suspended at the Karni Singh Shooting Range in south Delhi after one of them allowed a traffic constable to enter the complex Thursday without the accreditation card authorising him entry to the Games venues.

The incident came to the knowledge of the venue commander, Additional Commissioner of Police Virendra Singh Chahal, while inspecting the security arrangements in the complex.

“When Chahal saw the traffic constable he asked the latter for his accreditation card. When the constable failed (to produce it), Chahal interrogated the security officials posted at the main gate,” a Delhi Police official said on condition of anonymity.

After interrogation, both the constables were suspended. When asked to comment on the incident, Chahal refused to do so terming it as an internal matter.

Another constable was suspended for security lapse at the Thyagraj Stadium, venue for the netball event of the Games, also in south Delhi. The constable was posted at the Kotla Mubarakpur police station.

Delhi Police’s tight security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games have not only impressed the Games officials and athletes but also union Home Minister P. Chidambaram who was taken by surprise when his personal security officer (PSO) and driver were stopped during his visit Wednesday to the Siri Fort Sports Complex, one of the venues.

“While he was allowed to enter the venue when he showed his accreditation card, his PSO and driver were denied entry for not carrying accreditation cards,” a Delhi Police official said.

The home minister’s accreditation card was issued Sunday.

The home minister had to walk around 500 metres upto the venue.

When the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee came to know about it, the officials rushed to the spot. But no action was taken against the security personnel after directions from the home minister, said a police official.

Forty percent of Delhi Police personnel posted at different police stations have been deployed for the Games. The police stations will be working with one inspector during the Games instead of the usual three.

Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories are expected to attend the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, India’s biggest international event after the 1982 Asian Games.