CWG was my biggest test: Outgoing Delhi Police chief

NEW DELHI - Outgoing Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal Tuesday termed preparing for and managing the Commonwealth games as his biggest test during his stint as police chief in the national capital.

“Around 40 venues had to be secured, transportation and accommodation of 200 companies of paramilitary force had to be arranged, and there were several other bigger challenges that had to be met. All the measures at the end were implemented seamlessly. It was quite an achievement for us,” Dadwal told reporters, a day before he hands over charge to B.K. Gupta.

He said security forces had undergone specialised training for the Commonwealth Games 2010, an education that will be a legacy for times to come.

“Our security matrix for the event is among the very best in the world. We expect to grow and evolve from here. To push the crime rate further down,” Dadwal said.

“Crime rates in my tenure have fallen to their lowest in the past 40 years. This is the result of a constantly growing faith between police and the public. As long as the people and police realize their responsibilities, Delhi will continue to remain safe for everyone,” he said.

As Delhi police chief, Dadwal took severe measures against police officers for refusing to register FIRs and oversaw a streamlining of the action procedure. He said he hoped that the lower rungs of the force continue to remain sensitised to the grievances of the public and help them in every manner.

Noting that he was leaving with no regrets, Dadwal, a 1974-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, admitted he would have liked to crack the Sep 19 Jama Masjid shooting case - which occurred a few days before the arrival of athletes and officials for the Oct 3-14 Games.

Dadwal said the growing size of Delhi’s population posed a huge challenge for the security agencies, who had limited resources.

“With the capital’s population at 185 lakh and growing very fast, the responsibilities of our forces are also stretching at a rapid pace. However with people by our side, with the assistance of their feedback, we’re sure of keeping our city safe.”

Dadwal will now take over as chief of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) - a paramilitary force tasked with guarding India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Gupta, his successor, is a 1975-batch IPS officer who is currently director general of Tihar Jail in the capital.