Made to order: Special Cell sleuths will be dressed to kill

NEW DELHI: They are Delhi Police's best crime investigators. But their dress code - loose pants, formal shirts tucked out and white sports shoes - often belie their reputation. But it isn't just about reputation; sometimes, they even have to convince other men in uniform to gain access to crime scenes. That's all set to change.

Police commissioner Alok Verma has decided to give the Special Cell a makeover. Black T-shirts with 'Special Cell, Delhi Police' printed on back and front, cargo pants, lightweight high-ankle shoes and commando belts will bring the unit on par with FBI and Israel's Mossad, at least visually.

Special Cell has a strength of about 700 and as many as 450 will get the new uniform. "Though masters at their work, their outfits give a different impression at times. With this, they would resemble the smartly-dressed detectives in the West. This will be a major facelift," said a source, detailing the plans.

But officers also clarified that this wouldn't be a 'dress code' as the men will still have to freedom to be in civil dress to protect their identity.

"The ones wearing these will primarily be at the forefront of investigations and raids. We are discussing the nitty-gritty, but as of now, we would offer these to the men who would be visiting a crime scene or go on raids where an encounter could be likely. There have been instances when our men ran the risk of being mistaken as accused when more than one team of Special Cell was involved in an operation," a senior officer said.

The revamp plan also includes a range of refresher courses to improve the sleuths' efficiency in crime detection, evidence collection and handling of terror cases. As of now, the unit is informally divided into two parts. While the New Delhi range deals with anti-terror operations, the other deals with organised crime. The unit has two DCPs as well.

The cell has had a history of cracking high-profile cases, such as the Rs 7.5 crore robbery at Lajpat Nagar, the double murder of security men at a missionary school opposite LG House, and arrests of many terrorists.