Delhi police chief lauds team that escorted Aaftab Amin Poonawala

New Delhi: The Delhi Police chief has lauded the police escort team for showing "presence of mind" during the attack on the van carrying Shraddha Walkar murder accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala to jail on Monday and preventing any harm.

According to officials, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora visited the Vikas Puri Police Line office of the 3rd Battalion of Delhi Armed Police on Tuesday to meet the members and appreciated their presence of mind and tactful handling of the situation.

He also gave away cash awards to each member. Two sub-inspectors were rewarded with Rs 10,000 each, two head constables with Rs 5,000 each and a constable with Rs 5000 as a token of appreciation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (3rd Battalion) Dhal Singh said that on Monday undertrial prisoner (UTP) Poonawala was required to be taken to Forensic Science Laboratory Rohini from Central Jail (Tihar).

"In the evening (Monday), at around 6.45 PM, when the UTP was ready to escort from FSL laboratory to Tihar jail, the outside area of FSL was checked by the escort team as well as by local police and no suspicious movements of persons was noticed.

"While, the jail van moved from FSL Rohini office and crossed the gate, suddenly a group of people attacked on the jail van with swords in their hands but the Command of 3rd Bn DAP displayed exemplary presence of mind and swiftly moved the jail van from the place so as to avoid any harm to the UTP and the escorting staff," Singh said.

The escorting team averted a major tragedy and safely brought the undertrial to Central Jail (Tihar), he said.