Abhijit Ray (Special Correspondent)
The heart of India’s capital woke up sealed,silent and under unprecedented security cover on Friday night as the government moved to prevent a students-led protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party [CJP] at Jantar Mantar.
In one of the largest security build-ups in recent years, 221 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), comprising around 23,000 personnel,along with 20,000 Delhi Police personnel have been deployed across the capital and will remain stationed till October 12.
The deployment includes 85 companies of CRPF,10 of SSB,Seven of Rapid Action Force,seven of ITBP and one of CISF.
Personnel have been redeployed from Jammu and Kashmir,West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
Why The Protest?:
The CJP,which started as an online satire collective, along with student groups,has called for a protest at 10 AM at Jantar Mantar – the designated protest site – demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision [SIR] of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police denied permission, stating the application was received only on Oct 7,three days before the protest, while rules require 10 days notice,and that the group violated undertakings during its July 20 protest.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force across New Delhi district.
What’s SHUT Today-A Complete Shutdown Around Lutyens’Delhi:
METRO:Delhi Police has written to DMRC seeking closure of entry and exit gates at 57 key metro stations.
The closure began at 9 PM Friday and will continue till the situation normalises.
Stations include Rajiv Chowk,Central Secretariat,Patel Chowk,Janpath,New Delhi,Mandi House,ITO,Supreme Court,Kashmere Gate,Central Secretariat,Hauz Khas, Karol Bagh among others.Interchange will be allowed except at New Delhi.
TRAINS:In a major disruption,254 trains have been cancelled on Saturday and several long-distance trains to Delhi were cancelled on Friday.
All mail and express trains arriving and departing from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin have been stopped.
INTERNET BLACKOUT:Mobile internet services in a radius of 4 km of the protest area were ordered suspended from Friday night to Saturday night.
The order covers the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing area for 24 hours from 10 PM Friday.
ROADS & MARKETS:A multi-layered barricading system with CCTV and facial-recognition cameras has been installed.
Connaught Place markets may be shut,cab services restricted near the protest site, and hotels advised not to give rooms to new guests.
The CJP leadership has rejected the police ban, saying protest is a fundamental right and they will gather at Jantar Mantar despite denial of permission.
Police have appealed to the public to avoid unauthorised gatherings and warned that violation,vandalism or damage to public property will invite legal action.
