Delhi gears up with G20-level security ahead of CJP protests
This could be one of the largest deployments of security forces in the capital in recent years.
The central government is strengthening security arrangements in Delhi ahead of a major protest planned at Jantar Mantar on October 10 against irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. According to a report by ‘The Telegraph’, thousands of personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being brought to Delhi from West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. This includes personnel deployed in sensitive areas and anti-Maoist operations.
Sources in the security establishment stated that additional forces are being arranged in light of the increasing opposition protests over the past two days and the upcoming demonstrations by the Cockroach People’s Party (CJP) and leftist organizations. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The central government has not yet commented on the proposed security deployment.
A security officer associated with the Home Ministry told ‘The Telegraph’ that,
In view of the anticipated large protests in Delhi from October 10, around 12,000 CRPF personnel are being airlifted to the capital from Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. According to the officer, extensive security arrangements are being made due to the likelihood of large crowds gathering.
The officer added that,
This could be one of the largest deployments of security forces in the capital in recent years. He compared it to the security arrangements during the G20 summit held in September 2023, when around 50,000 security personnel were deployed in Delhi, including approximately 30,000 Delhi police and 20,000 paramilitary personnel.
According to sources, intelligence reports suggest that student organizations, supporters of opposition parties, and farmers from neighboring states are likely to participate in the protests. With the expectation of people arriving in Delhi from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, security has been heightened at several borders of the capital. Sources indicate that measures are also being taken to prevent the entry of protesters as a precaution.
Another officer stated that,
Some companies of the CRPF that were stationed in Bengal after the assembly elections held in May are also being called to Delhi. Each company consists of about 100 personnel. According to this officer, around 12,000 paramilitary personnel are already present in Delhi amid ongoing opposition protests against the Chief Election Commissioner, and an additional approximately 11,000 CRPF personnel are being brought in for support.
There is a discrepancy in the reports regarding the figures for additional deployment between the two officers. One officer mentioned calling in about 12,000 personnel, while the other stated the number to be around 11,000. No official details have been released by the government.
According to the report,
12,000 paramilitary personnel already present in Delhi have been deployed since the five-week-long movement by the CJP against the NEET paper leak in July. The report noted that at the end of that movement, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had resigned.
CJP's chief spokesperson Saurav Das informed on Wednesday that the party has formally notified the Delhi Police about the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10. According to him, this protest, addressing issues related to elections and voter lists, will be led by the youth of the country.
Das stated that,
He has submitted a letter at the Parliament Street police station. The letter informs the police that CJP and youth from across the country will gather at Jantar Mantar on October 10. Multiple levels of iron barricades have already been erected in key areas of Lutyens' Delhi, including Parliament, the Election Commission office, and Jantar Mantar.
According to sources, the Home Ministry has also instructed that during crowd control, Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel should not carry potentially lethal weapons such as pellet guns. Senior security officials have been asked to ensure that measures such as batons, tear gas, and water cannons are used to disperse the crowd.
The use of pellet guns against Gen-Z protesters at Jantar Mantar during the Parliament march on July 20, called by the CJP, had sparked widespread outrage. Legal questions were also raised in this matter. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has instructed all station heads to monitor buses entering the New Delhi district. According to reports, they have also been directed to contact the management of educational institutions and paying guest accommodations to advise students not to participate in the protests.