Encroachment under police chief’s scanner

Sources said the issue was raised at a recent crime review meeting at the Delhi Police Headquarters, after the top cop received several complaints that encroachment was taking place in connivance with local police.

Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik (Express Photo/Amit Mehra/File)

To curb encroachment, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has said disciplinary action will be taken against SHOs and their subordinates if any re-encroachment takes places in no-hawking zones under their areas.

Sources said the issue was raised at a recent crime review meeting at the Delhi Police Headquarters, after the top cop received several complaints that encroachment was taking place in connivance with local police.

According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Delhi has as many as 4.5 lakh street vendors. In January 2016, the then Chief Secretary K K Sharma had appeared before the Delhi High Court in response to summons issued in a contempt of court case, for failing to take steps to implement the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act.

Story continues below this ad

Also read | 175 beggars removed this yr, but welfare dept out of loop

Later, the Delhi government had notified the amended rules and schemes for implementation of Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.

“The police chief also directed district DCPs to personally check and ensure compliance of this order on the ground. In case any re-encroachment comes to notice, strict disciplinary action has to be taken against the SHO as well as division and beat staff,” said a senior police officer.

He further asked DCPs to reclaim public spaces. “Reclaiming public spaces means inculcating a sense of safety in the minds of the citizens. This can be possible only if people see more police visibility on roads, taking action against anti-social elements. All 14 district DCPs should launch special drives against drug addicts, touts, beggars at public parks, bus stands, markets, ISBTs, railway and Metro stations,” the officer added.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More