Alarm systems, drills eyed at Delhi Assembly
New Delhi, April 8 -- The Delhi Assembly will get an integrated alarm system for its premises, it was decided at a high-level meeting on Tuesday between Delhi Police and Assembly officials, a day after a 37-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh allegedly broke through the barricades and entered the complex, placing flowers in the Speaker's car before escaping. An officer said, "Police will install an integrated alarm system so that, in case of emergency, senior officers will receive the alert directly." The officer further said mock security drills will be carried out at the premises every month.
On Monday, Sarabjit Singh, a businessman from Uttar Pradesh, rammed his SUV into the barricades of the Vidhan Sabha in Civil Lines, entered the premises, briefly sat in the Speaker's car and left flowers in the boot. The incident, which lasted around five minutes, raised questions over security. He was arrested two hours later from Roop Nagar.
On Tuesday, two Delhi Police personnel and one CRPF personnel deployed at Gate No. 2, from where Sarabjit entered, were suspended. "Based on prima facie findings, one sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspector of the security unit of Delhi Police have been put under suspension," said a police spokesperson, adding that one CRPF personnel was also suspended. Deputy commissioner of police (north) Raja Banthia and joint commissioner of police Madhur Verma again visited the Assembly premises to review security.
A probe into the motive is ongoing. Family members attributed his actions to distress over his nephew's disappearance and a lapse in medication for mental health issues. They said he wanted to meet a minister to seek help. Police said they are yet to receive coherent answers and are examining a possible "terror" angle, adding the incident appeared planned. "He bought artificial flowers from Panipat and drove straight to the Assembly. If he was unwell, why was he travelling unsupervised?" a senior officer said, adding he nearly hit a security staffer.
According to the family, Sarabjit learned through social media about the disappearance of his 20-year-old nephew, a BTech student who went missing on April 1, and became agitated. "He has been on medication for depression for several years. He forgot his medicines, which worsened his condition," said his brother-in-law Harman. A Delhi court has remanded him to eight days in police custody. Police said he has given inconsistent statements, at times claiming he was under influence of drugs....
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