NEW DELHI, July 24: Operation Black Rose, responsible for the the many check points that had come up on the city roads yesterday, was conducted by the Delhi Police to monitor the reactions of the force to a scenario that had been set up. The police were to track down armed men travelling in a car who had robbed some persons around 8.30 p.m. and then escaped with the victims' car and bags containing cash.The reaction of the area police at the scene of the crime was observed -- the time taken to register the case, the manner in which the SHO reacted, the time taken for the police to chase the robbers.
A message was then transmitted to the concerned police stations and policemen were asked to trace the two cars. Senior police officers of the rank of district police commissioners followed both the cars. The DCPs who were dressed in civilian clothes and used old Maruti 800 cars so that they would go unnoticed, kept tabs on the policemen at check-points.
An observer monitored every move of the vehicles and the reaction of policemen in every district. Commenting on the operation, senior additional commissioner of police R.K. Sharma told Express Newsline: ``The mission yielded mixed results. While some policemen were alert, others were not. But the operation did help in increasing general alertness amongst the police.'' The police stations have been informed that similar operations would be carried out anytime in the near future and the force's reaction monitored. Rumours were afloat in many police stations that a similar operation was being carried out today.
Sr Addl. C.P Sharma responded: ``That is exactly what we expect from our staff. Now, the forces are apprehensive that we might initiate a similar operation anytime and are on the alert.''
On whether the cops were able to identify the cars and nab the accused, he said: ``We cannot tell the press anything until the reports filed by all the observers come in. All I can disclose now is that policemen at one checkpoint did succeed in identifying the cars.''
Extensive patrolling continued today at various areas of the Capital. Large number of policemen were stationed at various check-points in the city during peak hours.
Reliable sources claim that the ``focus today was on random checking. The presence of so many policemen should act as a deterrent to robbers.'' The policemen checked people travelling on two-wheelers as analysis of most of the robberies has shown that the robbers escaped with the loot on scooters or Yamaha motorcycles. A special patrolling operation was conducted in southwest district between 6 and 8 p.m. today considering the increasing number of robberies.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
