Cops engaging rioters ‘would be too risky’

ENGAGING the rioters in Little India would have been very risky for police officers because they were outnumbered and did not have the training nor the protection troops from the Special Operations Com-mand (SOC) did, the Committee of Inquiry into the Dec 8 violence was told.

“I am of the view that there would have been a risk to these officers ... just because of their numbers,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) David Scott Arul, who is also deputy commander of the SOC, and the senior officer in charge of the tactical troops during the riot.