DU student, friend ‘stalked’ in Mukherjee Nagar

New Delhi: The gang rape of a teenager in south Delhi’s Aastha Kunj Park has brought the issue of safety back in focus, with ongoing police audits flagging gaps in lighting, CCTV coverage and boundary walls in some of the city’s major green spaces.

The 170-acre Swarn Jayanti Park, also known as Japanese Park, in outer Delhi’s Prashant Vihar receives anywhere between 500 and 1,000 visitors during peak hours, according to police sources. police found that its lighting and CCTV coverage were insufficient, and identified several dark spots While the park has four gates and 27 guards providing round-the-clock security. The 100-acre District Park in Sector 1, Avantika, Rohini, attracts about 400-500 people during the morning and evening hours — 6am to 9am and 4pm to 7pm. It sees 500-700 visitors daily, mainly between 4.30am and 8.30pm. In central Delhi, the 16-acre DDU Park in IP Estate has security guards. It receives 150-250 visitors during its main gathering hours, i.e., 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. In Dwarka, a total of 113 parks were audited, following which police wrote to the agencies concerned, flagging the safety lapses identified during the inspections. More than 200 parks in West district were also audited. Almost 300 big parks and more than 800 smaller parks are being audited.

Cases under the Arms Act, Gambling Act and NDPS Act, besides cases of hurt, have been reported to have taken place inside the park. Police reported no crime from the park and found its lighting and boundary as well as the condition of the road to be good. The park has also witnessed cases of motor vehicle theft and snatching. It has five gates and security guards, but no CCTV cameras. Police also found that its boundary wall was damaged. Here too, police found the lighting, boundary and the road in a good condition. Delhi Police has directed its units to conduct safety audits of all major parks measuring one acre or more on priority and submit the reports to joint commissioners of police of the respective ranges within a week. The audit will assess the availability and shortage of guards, lighting arrangements including high-mast lights, CCTV coverage, the height and condition of boundary walls, overgrown bushes and trees, and gate closure timings after sunset. Police have also stepped up patrolling in and around major parks, with personnel using horses to cover areas that are difficult to patrol on foot or by vehicles. The move is aimed at increasing police visibility and keeping a closer watch on crowded stretches, isolated corners and other vulnerable spots, particularly during peak visiting hours.