Rohini court shootout: Police chief Rakesh Asthana orders review of security steps at courts

NEW DELHI: Friday’s shootout in a Rohini court has prompted the Delhi Police brass to review the security apparatus in courts afresh. Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana is learnt to have asked senior officers for reports regarding existing security steps and a fresh set of measures is likely to be released next week.
In a review meeting on Friday, steps like having two-member armed teams deployed on each floor of court buildings and improving CCTV surveillance and frisking was contemplated, sources said.
However, can shooting incidents in courts be prevented? Seasoned investigators said effective surveillance and use of a strong information network could indeed make it possible to avert such incidents to a large extent because of the planning involved to execute such bids.
A few years ago, Special Cell had intercepted calls made and received by hitmen and averted a similar bid at Rohini Courts Complex at the last moment. Ten henchmen belonging to the Neeraj Bawana-Naveen Baali gang were arrested in that operation in 2014.
The main shooter, Vikas Dabas, was disguised as a lawyer, just like Friday’s incident, and had come to kill Pradeep Bhola, a member of the rival Neetu Dabodia gang. Others were to provide cover. Special Cell sleuths spread across the court, many dressed as lawyers, nabbed them.
The incident that occurred on Friday was waiting to happen. “A threat to Gogi’s life from his arch rival was imminent and the fact that Tillu would be planning a hit was also not hidden. There were only two places where the incident could have happened, in jail or in the court on the hearing date,” said an investigator.
Trials of criminals like Gogi or Tillu could be conducted through videoconferencing, a retired senior cop suggested, given the fact that gangsters habitual of attacking rivals also posed a risk to lives of bystanders, lawyers or judges present in courts.
According to police, the lawyer’s attire provides a convenient camouflage for miscreants. So, while cops are strict and lawyers compliant with security measures after any incident, things go back to square one after some time as policemen go easy to avoid a confrontation.
“The judges and police need to work out a foolproof plan with steps like single entry and exit points to avert such incidents. A simple process like frisking can do wonders if followed religiously at all times,” a veteran investigator said on anonymity.