New Delhi, India – At least 70 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprising around 7,000 personnel, who are currently deployed in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, are being mobilised for law-and-order duties in Delhi, ahead of the protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10, according to two official communications issued on October 5 and 6.
A CRPF communication accessed by The Hindu asked the Chhattisgarh units to maintain full operational strength and carry the latest equipment, arms, and ammunition. The letter said that the deployment was being made on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). “All Companies shall be duly equipped with the latest Anti-Riot Equipment, operational-scale weapons and prescribed ammunition, as applicable. All personnel shall be properly briefed regarding the nature of duties, discipline and necessary security precautions to be observed during the subject deployment,” the communication said. Each company comprises around 100 personnel.
On the MHA’s directions, elaborate security arrangements are being made in and around Jantar Mantar ahead of the October 10 march to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. After the CJP issued a protest call on October 3, urging protesters to converge in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his scheduled visits to Telangana, Meghalaya, and Mizoram on October 4 and 5. A proposed visit to Manipur on October 7 was also called off, and Shah has since stayed put in Delhi to monitor the situation.
The New Delhi district, where Jantar Mantar is located, has seen unprecedented security deployment since October 2, when Left parties, the Aam Aadmi Party, and civil society groups staged protests against the CEC. Jantar Mantar, which was also the site for the CJP’s massive student protest that forced the resignation of the Union Education Minister in July, has been blocked by the police since July 26, with no alternative venue provided for agitations. The Delhi Police has invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting processions, rallies, and dharnas in the area.
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At least 40 CRPF companies are being de-inducted from West Bengal “in zero time” for further deployment in Delhi, while another 30 companies from the Chhattisgarh Sector have been asked to remain ready for deployment in the national capital. The deployments are in addition to the Delhi Police and other Central Armed Police Force units, including the Rapid Action Force, the specialised anti-riot unit of the CRPF. According to the communication, the 40 companies are currently stationed across several districts of West Bengal, including Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Purba Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah, and North 24 Parganas.
