2k Home Guard volunteers withdrawn from DTC buses

Around 2,000 Home Guard volunteers deployed as marshals in DTC buses to prevent crime against women have been withdrawn.

The decision was approved by Lt Governor Anil Baijal in order to attach the Home Guard volunteers with the Delhi Police in view of MCD polls to be held on April 22.

However, Civil Defence volunteers will continue to be deployed in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses.

A top official in the Directorate General of Home Guards said, "Around 2,000 Home Guard volunteers have been withdrawn and deployed with Delhi Police by the order of the Lt Governor.

"The withdrawal has been made for a certain time. After civic bodies elections, they would be sent back to DTC buses."
 

The official said that in the past too, Home Guard volunteers have been withdrawn.

In January, the AAP government had come out with a list of 2,980 marshals, consisting of Home Guard and Civil Defence volunteers deployed in DTC buses, dismissing claims by opposition BJP that there were not enough security guards in the vehicles.

According to the government, afternoon onwards, the deployment of marshals, is mandatory in all DTC-run buses.

Deployment in DTC buses was one of the pre-poll promises of the Aam Aadmi Party to prevent crimes especially against women passengers in buses.