The Delhi Police will add 15 ‘Parakram’ vans to its existing fleet of 10 as the force ramps up security in the run up to Independence Day.
The vans are GPRS-enabled and fitted with wireless communication. Each van is manned by a NSG-trained driver, in-charge and three commandos.
For armed response
The vehicles, mandated for anti-terror and other operations warranting armed response, were launched by the city police in May.
The additional vans will cover all major vulnerable and high footfall points in the city, said Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) and chief spokesperson of the Delhi Police.
Parakram vans are currently stationed at Vijay Chowk, Palika Bazar, IP Marg, Select Citywalk mall in Saket, Vasant Kunj malls, Pacific Mall in Subhash Nagar, Netaji Subhash Place market and mall complex, Akshardham Temple, Lotus Temple and Jhandewalan.
The new vans will cover trans-Yamuna, west, north and north-west Delhi, New Delhi and south Delhi areas, Mr. Pathak said.
The force is considering outfitting the vans with more technology and giving better equipment to the handlers, said another officer. “We are mulling body cameras for the commandos,” he said.
“Every three months, the commandos will undergo training for physical agility. They will also be briefed about the city’s vulnerability to terror attacks, emerging terror threats, and new modus operandi adopted by terrorists,” the officer added.
