Delhi Police will hold a high-level meeting on Thursday to finalise security and traffic arrangements at Central Park in Connaught Place ahead of the Tiranga march called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke for Friday.
The move follows his appeal to “patriots” to gather at the location with the national flag, according to three senior police officers familiar with the matter.
The meeting, to be chaired by Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, will be attended by special commissioners overseeing Law and Order Zones I and II, along with officers from the Crime Branch, Special Cell, intelligence and traffic units. The joint commissioner of police for the New Delhi Range and the deputy commissioner of police for New Delhi district are also expected to attend.
According to one senior officer, the meeting will focus on the scale of security deployment required for the proposed march and measures to prevent violations of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which are in force in the New Delhi area.
“The meeting will focus on the scale of security arrangements that will be required for the CJP’s proposed Tiranga march and what all precautionary measures need to be put in place to ensure prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS are not violated. We also need to ensure no mass gathering is allowed anywhere in central Delhi, including Connaught Place and its Central Park,” the officer said.
Traffic restrictions and diversions around Connaught Place and other parts of central Delhi will also be discussed.
Delhi Police Considers Barricades, Metro Restrictions
A second officer said Connaught Place presents a different security challenge compared with Jantar Mantar because of its multiple entry and exit points.
“Unlike Jantar Mantar, which primarily has only three access points, Connaught Place has multiple entry and exit points and it can be accessed from all directions. Whether all access points will be blocked and barricaded will be a key agenda that will be discussed in the meeting. A decision on whether to shut down entry-exit gates of metro stations would also be taken,” the officer said.
Intelligence officials are collecting information about the expected turnout and whether political parties, student groups and civil society activists will join the march. Security has already been stepped up in New Delhi, particularly around Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar.
CJP Calls for Protest Over Members’ Arrest
Dipke’s call for Friday’s gathering came after CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were sent to five days of judicial custody and lodged in Tihar Jail. They were accused of violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which was denotified as a protest site on Monday.
The two members had held the Tricolour and raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar before police personnel took them away on Tuesday.
Dipke alleged that the two were “jailed only for unfurling the Tricolour” and urged people to gather at Central Park in Connaught Place on Friday.
The CJP, along with several other organisations and political parties, has been holding protests demanding Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CAPF Deployment May Be Extended Till October 20
Delhi Police has asked the Union Home Ministry to extend the deployment of 273 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the national capital until October 20, citing the possibility of further escalation in protests by the CJP and other organisations near Jantar Mantar and the Election Commission of India.
A third senior police officer said 200 CAPF companies had already been earmarked for protest-related law and order duties. Anti-riot vehicles have also been stationed in and around Jantar Mantar to respond to both planned and sudden demonstrations.
Intelligence officials are tracking the locations and movements of key CJP members and others expected to lead Friday’s proposed march, the officers said.
Amid heightened security preparations, traders in Connaught Place have decided to keep their establishments open on Friday.
New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) president Atul Bhargava said repeated protests had significantly affected business in the commercial hub.
“Our business is badly affected due to the protests. Our business has come down to 30-35%. Traders in CP are fed-up with these protests. We have decided to keep our establishments open on Friday, as keeping them closed is not an option, keeping in mind our own expenses, including rents and salaries of employees,” Bhargava said.
Shops, restaurants and offices in Connaught Place are expected to continue operations despite the anticipated security measures and possible traffic restrictions.