20 September,2010 08:00 AM IST | | Atul Krishan
Cops on duty had gone to settle an altercation between a father and son
While the two trigger-happy bikers were busy shooting at foreign tourists at Jama Masjid, cops in the local police control room van were busy settling a family feud nearby.
Trouble spot: Onlookers and mediapersons at Gate no. 3 of the Jama
Masjid where a PCR van is usually stationed. The gate is just a few
hundred metres away from the local police station. PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN
Cops roaming in the PCR van, which is usually stationed near the gate number 3 of the Mughal-era mosque, had gone to attend to a local call when the incident occurred, police sources told MiD DAY.
The van usually remains stationed at the gate number 3 ever since two explosions occurred in the courtyard of the 17th century mosque. Incidentally, the bikers were able to flee despite the fact that armed guards were posted at the gate and the Jama Masjid police station was barely 200 meters away from the spot.
Also, in a major security goof up, the 20 CCTVs which were installed near the Masjid, have been lying defunct, making any major headway in the investigations into the shootout difficult if not impossible.
The PCR van stationed at gate number 3 got a call regarding a brawl in the Khankhana street in the Machli Bazar area. The control room received the call barely half an hour before the terrorists struck at Jama Masjid. A businessman had reportedly called up the police alleging that his landlord had forcibly opened the doors of his house. A diary entry was made at the Jama Masjid police station regarding the altercation.
"When we reached the spot we found the two were actually father and son. Rashid, a cloth dealer, had alleged that his son was fighting with him. Later, the police made them reach a compromise," said a police officer.
"We came to know about the shooting at Jama Masjid only when we returned to our post," the officer said.
Two bike-borne terrorists opened fire at a stationary tourist bus carrying purportedly a TV crew from Taiwan at 11:24 pm near gate number 3 of Jama Masjid. Two Taiwanese tourists were injured in the firing. While one bullet grazed past the head of one foreigner, his colleague took one shot in the stomach. Both were rushed to the nearby Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital. Doctors attending on them described their condition as stable.
Gate number 3 of Jama Masjid is barely 100 meters away from the house of the Shahi Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari.
WHY NO CCTVs AT JAMA MASJID
On April 14, 2006, two blasts at Jama Masjid in old Delhi had triggered panic and knee-jerk reaction from the authorities in the form of CCTV cameras being installed around the premises. So why doesn't Delhi police have any evidence of Sunday's attack near Gate no. 3 of the mosque on tape? Well that's because the cameras were recently removed at the orders of Imam Ahmed Bukhari and members of Jama Masjid's consultative counsel.
Speaking with this reporter Sayed Tariq Anasari, general secretary of the counsel said the 20 CCTV cameras that were installed around the Masjid were not working and so they were removed.
"After the April blast police had requested us to install the CCTV cameras. Initially our men used to monitor these cameras but later on cops stated scrutinising the system. These CCTV cameras were not working since long. We had complained to the area DCP, and Wakf Board. When nothing happened we removed the system," said Ansari.
'ALL IS WELL'
"This has been a very, very sad incident...People should not panic. I am in constant touch with the Police Commissioner. The police are investigating the incident and culprits will be caught. Everything is under control," said Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit.
PC VISITS VICTIMS
Hours after the incident, Home Minister P Chidambaram visited the LNJP Hospital, where the two injured Taiwanese are admitted. Chidambaram enquired about their health conditions and also talked to senior official and medical professionals present there. He did not speak to the media.
Home Ministry officials said it was too early to make an assessment and that the investigations were underway.
ADVANI'S CONCERN
BJP Parliamentary Party Chief L K Advani on Sunday called up Home Minister P Chidambaram to discuss the firing incident outside Jama Masjid in which two foreign tourists were injured and enquired about the steps being taken to handle the situation.
'NO IMPACT ON GAMES'
"The shooting incident this morning in Delhi will have no impact on the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi," the Organising Committee said in a statement.
OC spokesperson, Lalit Bhanot said the country's security establishment has made elaborate arrangement to ensure a safe Games for all the participants and officials. "The Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police have made elaborate arrangements to provide the Commonwealth Games athletes and officials a safe and secure environment. The Commonwealth Games Associations of the nations and territories have been satisfied with the plans and preparations made by Delhi Police and the International Security Liaison Group," Bhanot said.
