People should remain vigilant and verify the identities of individuals claiming to be police officers. (File photo)
NEW DELHI: The alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in south Delhi by three men posing as policemen has not only raised questions about safety, but also brought into spotlight the intimidation tactics used by criminals.Here’s how one can identify such imposters and stay safe.
How impostors operate
- The person(s) may speak in an assertive or intimidating manner to establish authority. When operating in groups, they may address each other as “sir” or “janab” to reinforce their claim of being cops
- They may threaten you with arrest or other legal consequences
- The imposter(s) may tell you that a warrant has been issued against you or threaten to take you to a police station. In cases involving minors, they may also threaten to inform their parents
- They may not always wear uniforms. In some cases, they may claim to be from a special unit or an investigation team
How you can identify these impostors
- If your suspicions are aroused, call the emergency helpline number 112
- Remember, no police officer can question a couple inside a park without a legitimate reason
- If anyone in civilian clothes harasses you while claiming to be a police officer, ask for their ID card and immediately call 112
- Police personnel are generally in uniform while on routine duty. If you have doubts, check their identification and Delhi Police insignia
- Special units or operation teams operate in civilian clothes, but their personnel are generally deployed for specific police operations and investigations rather than routinely approaching people in parks
What to do if you think you are in danger
- Be confident and try not to look scared
- In you are a minor, go live on video with an adult
- Start moving briskly and confidently towards a lighted area or towards a crowd and dial 112
- You can press the power button repeatedly to dial 112
- Use the SOS feature on phone and share your live location with someone
- Start shouting immediately whether people are around or not; someone may hear you and come to your rescue
