A day after a blast near the Red Fort claimed at least 13 lives and resulted in injuries to more than 20 people, BJP Chandni Chowk MP Praveen Khandelwal said Tuesday, the fact that shops in Chandni Chowk are open shows that there is “no feeling of terror as they wanted”.
Khandelwal, who met with the families of the victims and the injured at LNJP Hospital earlier in the day, said that stepping up private security in consultation with the local police across its sprawling vicinity, along the carriageway known as Dariba in the heritage market in the heart of Old Delhi, was on the anvil.
“There is no fear, but there is an atmosphere of precaution,” Khandelwal told The Indian Express.
“Trade unions spread across the market are helping the government agencies in the identification of individuals. Besides giving this support to the police, they are also contemplating (the deployment of) private security guards in tandem with the local police SHO,” he added.
Acknowledging vacancies among their ranks, Khandelwal said the police were doing their duty as well as they could and could not be expected to be omnipresent.
“The market can employ its own security according to requirement to supplement the police’s efforts. The more the security, the more the footfall,” he said, reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning that those responsible for the attack would be brought to justice.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is personally monitoring the situation, while the Delhi Police and central agencies are working round the clock to ensure that every angle is investigated.
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“The culprits will not escape justice — they will face the toughest punishment under the law,” he said, appealing for calm and remaining united and vigilant against rumours emanating from elements trying to spread panic and disturb peace.
He also appreciated the work being done by medical and paramedical staff at the Delhi government-run LNJP Hospital, where the injured are admitted.
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