R-Day: Delhi police sets up WIPA system to enhance security

New Delhi, Jan 24: Delhi Police have set up a wireless integrated public address (WIPA) system to enhance security at crowded places and popular markets in the city amid a high security alert ahead of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.

"WIPA is a centralised public address system now installed at 31 crowded places and markets in Delhi, and also in 13 major metro stations. "Through this system, announcements can be made centrally from the police control room to be heard at all the places simultaneously, or even selectively, with a provision to make announcements if the situation warrants," a senior Delhi Police official said.

The present WIPA network includes popular markets at Lajpat Nagar, INA Market, South Extension, Nehru Place and M-Block in Greater Kailash, metro stations like Mandi House, Inderlok, Welcome and Netaji Subhash Place, besides other crowded areas that include Ajmeri Gate, Ballimaran, Red Fort, Azadpur, Bhogal, Seelampur market and Tilak Nagar. Police have also been conducting a series of mock drills to check their preparedness in dealing with terror situations.

This week, two massive drills were conducted jointly with NSG commandos at south Delhi’s Hauz Khas village and Khan Market in New Delhi. Meanwhile, all police stations, offices of the assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to keep one emergency team in reserve.

The teams shall comprise specially trained personnel who shall only act in cases of emergency and not engage in routine law and order affairs till January 26, the official said.

Crime mapping for the entire city was recently conducted by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, who have been tasked with keeping an eye on criminal elements, especially the ones associated with small-time gangs in Delhi-NCR or with previous involvement in gunrunning, said the official.

Also, the Special Cell has been asked to keep an eye out for operatives of terror outfits and their movements. The national capital was put on high alert following inputs about the presence of some terrorists after the Pathankot incident.

Delhi police this week arrested four youths with alleged IS links from Haridwar district in Uttarakhand. They had allegedly planned to attack Haridwar-bound trains and strategic locations in the national capital.

PTI