Delta Force rid crime on vital expressway

A special police force, set up to patrol the Mumbai-Pune Expressway following a spate of robberies and a murder, has brought travellers back to one of India's most modern roads.

In order to curb highway crime that shook travellers and kept them from using the 94-km road, especially at night, the state government and the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), which constructed the expressway, has deputed a special security force called the Delta Force to patrol and assist the local police.

Ever since the Delta Force took over, there have been no untoward incidents, said Minister for Public Works Vikramsinh Patankar. "So far six criminals, involved in the Khalapur murder, have been apprehended by the Force which handed them over to the local police."

Besides, the Force has been able to curb robberies and prevent frequent thefts of electrical equipment. A series of robberies in the past year came to a head when 28-year Santosh Chacko was stabbed to death by highway robbers on September 20.

The modus operandi of the criminals has been to place rocks or sacks of mud in the middle of the road and hide in the bushes till motorists slow down or stop, then attack them and rob them of their valuables.

In this case, Chacko and his friends got down to inspect the road when stones were thrown at them. Chacko was surrounded and could not escape even as his friends rushed to bring the police from a nearby toll station. By the time help arrived, he was dead.

The incident led to motorists of private cars, taxis and even heavy vehicles avoiding using the road, preferring to use the old highway which takes much longer.

Special taxi services, that plied at all times of the day were the worst hit. They are now relieved that policemen are on duty 24 hours of the day.

The MSRDC itself was affected since it depends extensively on road users to collect toll charges that pay for the expenses of building and maintaining the road. In order to attract more commercial vehicles which have been using the old highway, it has started reducing the toll rates from 10pm-6am.

With most regular motorists back on this beautiful highway that winds through green fields and hills, the MSRDC is bent on ensuring there is no reoccurrence of crime.

Vikram Bokey from the Maharashtra Police, who was called to take over as Officer on Special Duty with MSRDC for expressway security, has recruited ex-servicemen who have retired from service less than two years ago with experience in counter-insurgency and who also happen to be residing in the adjoining areas of the expressway.

The police presence on the expressway is now very visible and that should boost the morale of everyone, says Bokey.

About 55 ex-servicemen have been carrying out their duty in areas of so-called no-conflict. Sixteen observation towers have been erected and 10 security assistance booths have been put up and manned round the clock along the expressway.

The Force has nine vehicles and 10 motorcycles for patrolling whilst there are plans to have an effective communication system by utilising the latest technological and satellite facilities.

Medical assistance and two fully equipped ambulances with life saving facilities along with doctors are said to be available round the clock and there are also plans to set up a trauma centre.