New Delhi: Delhi Police is set to revamp its women-centric initiatives and introduce a slew of measures to curb crime against them, including intensified combing operations in city parks and greater deployment of all-women police patrols in vulnerable areas.During coordinated combing and search operations conducted across the Central Range on Sept 22 and 23, police checked identified public locations and vulnerable spots. According to a consolidated report, 379 people were apprehended under Section 65 of Delhi Police Act, while further action was taken under Delhi Excise Act, COTPA, Gambling Act, BNSS and POCSO Act. Police also checked 33 bad characters.The measure included systematic checking of parks and other public spaces considered vulnerable. In Darya Ganj, five parks were scanned and 66 people were apprehended under Section 65 of Delhi Police Act. In Jama Masjid area, several parks and public spaces were searched, resulting in action against 45 people under Section 65, besides preventive action under BNSS.“Our objective is very clear — public spaces belong to the public and cannot be allowed to become spaces dominated by miscreants or persons indulging in unlawful activities. This is not merely a one-day exercise. It is a sustained area-domination programme aimed at restoring order, safety and confidence in every public space,” joint CP (central) Madhur Verma said.On Wednesday, special CP Devesh Srivastava held a meeting with officers regarding measures related to women’s safety.In Kamla Market area, intensive checking was carried out at several parks, including Minto Road Complex Park, Shivaji Park, DBG Park, Nehru Park and Shastri Park. The operation resulted in 60 people being detained under Section 65, three vehicles being seized and further preventive and legal action under the Excise Act and BNSS.Similar action was taken in Hauz Qazi, DBG Road, Patel Nagar, Rajinder Nagar and Prasad Nagar. In Patel Nagar, five parks were checked and 82 people were apprehended under Section 65, along with preventive action under the Excise Act and BNSS. In Prasad Nagar, 23 people were proceeded against under Section 40(A) of the Delhi Excise Act, while additional action was taken under Gambling Act and Excise Act.As part of the focus on women’s safety, all-women patrolling squads operating on pink scooters have also been deployed to intensify surveillance in vulnerable areas.Delhi Police is also carrying out security audits of public spaces under the broader “broken windows” approach. Teams are identifying dark spots, damaged fencing, encroachments, vulnerable entry and exit points and other deficiencies, with issues requiring civic intervention to be flagged to agencies such as PWD and MCD for remedial action. The focus is on reducing visible disorder and improving police visibility to make public spaces safer and more accessible.
