Indoor shooting range to tech gadgets: Blast-proof office for the Special Cell

The Indian Categorical has learnt that the Cabinet Committee on Safety (CCS), chaired by Key Minister Narendra Modi, lately authorised the Delhi Police’s proposal to construct a new headquarters for its Special Cell unit in Lodhi Colony – following demolishing its existing office environment there. The task, distribute over close to 2,000 square yards, will price Rs 350 crore.

The current office, more than the previous 35 yrs of its existence, is where the Distinctive Mobile generally normally takes suspects, which includes all those involved in significant-profile instances, for questioning. The long listing of suspects – extra than 500 terrorists and 600 gangsters – who have been questioned there include things like Indian Mujahideen’s founder Yasin Bhatkal Syed, Abdul Karim alias Tunda, gangster Munna Bajrangi, former MP Atiq Ahmed, and recently, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.

Former Delhi Law enforcement Commissioner Rakesh Asthana, in the course of whose tenure in 2021-22 proposal for a new making was organized, explained to The Indian Express that keeping in brain the threat perception to Specific Mobile, they made a decision to make the new headquarters in Lodhi Colony. The final decision was taken by Asthana just after 3 visits to the present business office.

“Asthana asked DCP (Particular Mobile) Manishi Chandra to prepare a proposal and they determined to shift it under umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Law enforcement Forces. The then law enforcement chief also submitted the proposal to Ministry of Property Affairs (MHA) for approval. It was authorized and despatched to expenditure finance committee and soon after all clearance, it was lately cleared by CCS,” a senior law enforcement officer claimed. Aside from an indoor capturing array, an officer stated, “The new setting up will be a blast-resistant composition, there will be a risk-free house, and a new condition-of-the-artwork questioning space, fitted with high-conclude units.”

Now, 300 law enforcement staff – which includes DCP (New Delhi Assortment of Particular Cell), two ACPs and all-around 12 inspectors – occupy the Lodhi Colony office environment. A couple of times ago, they were asked to shift to a different business of the protection wing in Vinay Marg right until the new building is concluded. The new setting up will also be place of work for Distinctive CP and More CP of Particular Mobile, who at present sit in Delhi Law enforcement headquarters at ITO.

In accordance to retired Added Law enforcement Commissioner Ashok Chand, Distinctive Cell’s place of work is sensitive – and usually beneath risk – as all major functions in opposition to terrorists and the underworld are introduced from below. “ I was posted as DCP (Unique Cell) in 1998 and we experienced solved several sensational situations, like the Parliament attack and Red Fort attack cases. At that time, we were coordinating with intelligence as effectively as military agencies…,” mentioned Chand, who served the drive for all-around 35 yrs and headed the Special Mobile and Crime Branch.

Yet another officer mentioned they ended up instructed by officers of intelligence agencies that site of the Lodhi Colony workplace was discovered in the system of Pakistan’s ISI. Later on, alerted by safety agencies of a possible terror assault, police installed two pop-up spike obstacles at the office’s entrance gate.