NEW DELHI, May 25: It could have been just another one of those bomb-hoax calls. The one at Fun 'n Food Village in Kapashera this evening, however, has turned into a clash of egos between the police and the amusement park's owners.DCP (south-west) S. Prakash said that he will initiate legal action against the owners for ``preventing the police team from inspecting the amusement park''. The call later turned out to be a hoax, and was traced to a PCO with a coin operating system.
Balwant Chawla and Santokh Chawla, owners of the amusement park, however, contend that they are being harassed because they had refused to entertain the guests of local policemen any longer at their restaurants.``The police themselves say that the control room received the call at 6 p.m. following which senior police officers turned up.
``But why did sub-inspector Dharam Pal Singh from the Kapasera police post come over at 4.30 p.m. and ask our customers to leave the place saying that a bomb had been planted inside?'' asked Balwant.
He alleged that one of his employees was picked up by the Kapasera police last night and illegally detained during the night. ``I told them today that I would complain to their seniors and stop entertaining their guests in our restaurant. Following this, they threatened to take action against me.''
DCP Prakash, on the other hand, said that the Chawlas were trying to mislead everyone with their excuses as they had realised that their refusal to allow the police to verify the bomb call had larger ramifications. ``Even if the call finally turns out to be a hoax, we cannot take chances,'' he said, while pointing out that there was no question of police harassment.
A bomb call had been logged in at police control room at 6 p.m. and the local police were merely investigating.
``These people did not want to put up with a little difficulty even for an hour. Neither were they willing to close down their business for that period. ``We did not bring the bomb squad or the dog squad for a joke,'' said the DCP.
When this report was being filed, Chawlas contacted Express Newsline to say that the police had completed the search and given the green signal, but had threatened to arrest them.
Prakash refused to specify whether the Chawlas would be arrested, but said that he would initiate legal action against them. ``They were not allowing us to enter, saying that they could give in writing that there was no bomb in their place. They were obstructing officials on duty.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
