The Delhi Police, which has been entrusted with preventing crime in the Capital, seems to have been unable to stay safe of vehicle thieves.
Case properties missing
What’s worse is that the vehicles allegedly stolen are all case properties — they were seized after a crime was reported and had been used by either the victim or accused.
Recently, the staff at Kanjhawala police station in outer Delhi found that at least three vehicles, including an MUV and a pick-up truck, were missing from the police station. While the role of an insider is being probed, the fact that there was a lapse has been documented.
No daily checks
The FIR that was registered based on the statement of a head constable mentions how the case properties are inspected not each day, but “ kareeb kareeb” [almost] daily.
The Hindu made repeated attempts to speak to senior officers in the outer District to understand how a vehicle could be taken away, but they remained unavailable for comments.
Case registered
The missing vehicles were parked outside the police station in an open area, also government land, used by the police. According to a check conducted at 6.30 p.m. on May 10, all vehicles were at the spot. Interestingly, the head constable said in his statement that no checks were conducted the subsequent day.
On May 12, the vehicles were found missing from the adjacent premises, after which the staff raised an alarm. A case of theft has been registered and investigation is under way.
