Police Gypsy stolen ahead of Independence Day, cops raise vigil

NEW DELHI: In a major security breach ahead of Independence Day, a police quick reaction team (QRT) vehicle with flashers on top has been stolen from a spot near

South Extension

in south Delhi, TOI has learnt. The vehicle was attached to the

Tughlaq Road

police station and had just returned from a patrol.

The theft has sent security agencies in a tizzy, with a massive hunt launched to recover the vehicle, a

Gypsy

. Personnel at barricades set up for Independence Day and all beat officer have been asked to keep a lookout for the vehicle.The area

DCP

has been asked to supervise the probe. The theft comes days after security agencies had issued an alert regarding possibility of a car, including a police vehicle, being used as a vehicle borne IED (VBIED) for a strike before August 15. Fearing misuse, intelligence agencies are assisting the police in tracking down the vehicle.

Sources said the theft took place recently. The driver had gone home in the vehicle and parked it outside his house.He went in for a few minutes and returned to find the vehicle missing. Immediately , a PCR call was made and messages flashed across Delhi. An FIR was also registered.

Police have also issued an order that no staff vehicle is to be abandoned even for a moment. All SHOs have been asked to ensure that vehicles attached to their police stations are parked within the thana premises. All officers, including ACPs, have been asked to carry arms as well.Cops have also activated informers in the auto-lifting gangs to generate information about the culprits.

Cops suspect the Gypsy was being tailed while it was on patrol.

CCTV

footage of the area is being scanned for clues.Locals have been questioned but no breakthrough has been made yet.

This time, the threat perception for August 15 is higher as the day also coincides with Janmashtmi.

Police commissioner Amulya Patnaik has been on his toes taking stock of security arrangements. He has order sleuths of the special cell to work round-the-clock to identify possible lapses in security , which are being passed on to supervisory officers.

A few days ago, Patnaik had handed out a list of security loopholes in the area to a special commissioner, sources said.

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