CISF Constable who chased passenger with suspicious bag at Delhi Metro Station rewarded

A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel member has been awarded a ₹10,000 cash reward and the Director General's Commendation Certificate for chasing down a passenger who tried to flee during security screening at Jama Masjid Metro Station in Delhi.

Abhishek Verma, posted with the CISF unit of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), stopped the passenger on October 17 after X-ray screening detected a dense object inside his bag.

The incident took place when the passenger arrived at the station's security checkpoint. As his bag passed through the X-ray baggage scanner, an object appeared dark on the screen, prompting CISF personnel to ask him to open the bag for a physical inspection.

Instead, the passenger picked up his bag, ran out of the frisking booth and took the escalator towards the exit gate.

Verma, who was on frisking duty at the entry point, immediately chased him along with his colleagues and stopped him before he could leave the station. The passenger was then taken to the station control room.

During questioning, the passenger said he was a non-resident Indian (NRI) from Kuala Lumpur who had arrived in India a day earlier. A semi-solid substance was found stitched inside an undergarment in his bag. As the substance could not be identified at the spot, the Delhi Metro Rail Police (DMRP) was called.

The passenger and his belongings were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation. The nature of the substance was not specified in the information provided by the CISF.

CISF Chief Praises Personnel's Alertness

Director General of CISF Praveer Ranjan, an IPS officer, commended Verma for his vigilance and swift response in stopping the passenger.

Ranjan said Verma had shown "exceptional vigilance, alertness and swift action" during the incident. He added that the personnel's response reflected "exemplary professionalism and dedication to the service".

He also said that such presence of mind among frontline personnel helped keep lakhs of metro commuters safe every day.

Verma, who hails from West Karbi Anglong district in Assam, joined the CISF through direct recruitment on May 29, 2018. He has served with the force for more than eight years.

The CISF said Verma's quick response, supported by his colleagues, helped prevent the passenger from leaving the station before the suspicious substance could be examined by the police.