Cops clueless about incident at one of country's most secure places

The President is safe, but all her men have proved useless in providing security to the complex where she stays.


Bike trouble: Mohammed Yukub's two-wheeler was stolen from the
President Estate a week ago.u00a0u00a0

While the Capital was turned into a fortress due to Republic Day celebrations, bike-jackers targeted the high-security Rashtrapati Bhavan. A DJ's bike went missing when he came to perform at a wedding reception of a Rashtrapati Bhavan employee. An FIR was filed two days ago.

A police source said Mohammed Yakub, a resident of Uttam Nagar, had come to the President estate, a part of Rashtrapati Bhavan complex. "Yakub parked his Bajaj-Discover bike near the United Bank of India and when he returned, the bike was missing.

The DJ then informed the police," said the police source. The victim went inside through Gate Number 31 of Rashtrapati Bhavan. A DD entry was made with PP (police post) South Avenue to look into the matter. The police were not ready to believe that a bike can be stolen from the highly secure place. Finally they decided to register a case.

Cops have gone into a tizzy after the matter came into light. A Crime Branch source said that the victim was questioned on Sunday. According to the source, the crime branch is also looking into the matter.u00a0 Meanwhile, DCP, Rashtrapati Bhavan, HM Meena told MiD DAY that local police will look into the matter and only New Delhi district police can comment on the matter.

"The bike has stolen from the President Estate area. It happened a week ago during a marriage function," DCP Meena said.

Cops are accusing me: Yakub
It was not the first time when the victim, Mohammed Yakub visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He has been there several times earlier. But this was the first time that something like this has happened. He had left his bike unattended only for five minutes to collect the payment for performing at the reception.u00a0When MiDDAY contacted the victim, he said that police first harassed him and were not ready to listen to him.

"The police called me a liar and claimed that I am cooking up the story. I then showed them the cash memo from the petrol pump situated inside the President estate. The police contacted the attendant of the petrol pump and finally agreed that my bike was stolen," said Yakub.

Around 225 police personnel are posted within the Rashtrapati Bhavan. They have sophisticated weapons and work in three shifts. Common public can enter the premises from Gate Number 17, 31 and 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This incident took place near Gate Number 31. Before entering, a person has to show valid reason. He should also have an entry pass.u00a0 The Rashtrapati Bhavan is under three-tier security. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the first tier, while the second is manned by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) commandos. Delhi Police personnel are deployed in the last tier along with special commandos.