Delhi Police has deployed around 5,000 personnel, including Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other paramilitary personnel, across central Delhi as two protest marches against the Election Commission are scheduled to take place on Sunday.
The heightened security comes as demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar enter their third consecutive day.
Police said permission has not been granted for the proposed marches from India Gate to Jantar Mantar but expect a large turnout, reports Hindustan Times.
A Citizens’ March has been announced for 3pm, followed by an Indian Youth Congress march along the same route at 5pm.
Security has been strengthened along roads leading to Jantar Mantar, with multiple layers of barricades installed at Tolstoy Marg, Janpath Road, Sansad Marg and the Kerala Bhawan side. Barricades have also been placed near Ashoka Road and C-Hexagon.
A police officer said district police, reserve forces, RAF and other paramilitary personnel have been deployed on both sides of the stretch between Parliament Street police station and Jantar Mantar.
“Though permission has not been granted, we are expecting huge numbers,” the officer said, requesting anonymity.
PCR vans and other police vehicles will be stationed on routes leading to Jantar Mantar. CCTV footage will be monitored from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), while drones may be used to monitor the crowd and assess the security situation if necessary.
Police personnel have also been equipped with anti-riot gear, while the Ministry of Home Affairs has been informed about the security arrangements.
The Sunday protests follow two days of demonstrations in which police detained hundreds of people attempting to reach Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site.
On Saturday, around 150 people were detained, including All India Students’ Association (AISA) national president Neha Bora, activist Yogendra Yadav and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan.
The protesters were demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and raising concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Saturday’s protesters gathered near Patel Chowk and attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar, The Hindu.
Police detained several of them as they tried to move through the barricades. The detainees were taken to different police stations across Delhi and later released, according to police.
The mobilisation followed a call by Bora, who had herself been detained during Friday’s demonstration. Congress leader Kapil Sibal, advocates Nitya Ramakrishnan and Pallav Sisodia, Bhushan and Yadav were among those who joined Saturday’s protest, along with members of student and civil society groups.
Police had also detained around 550 people on Friday while they were attempting to reach Jantar Mantar. Authorities had denied permission for that demonstration and imposed prohibitory orders in New Delhi district.
The police action on Saturday triggered allegations of misconduct. AISA members alleged that a male police officer manhandled Bora and that another officer verbally abused her. Police rejected the allegations.
Three complaints alleging sexual harassment of women protesters and journalists by police personnel have been received and referred to the Crime Branch for investigation, according to police. The issue also drew a response from Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who referred on X to an allegation made by a female journalist against a police officer.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has registered three FIRs against unidentified people in connection with Friday’s demonstrations-two at Parliament Street police station and one at Connaught Place police station.
The cases invoke provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to disobedience of an order issued by a public servant, obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of duty, use of criminal force against a public servant and acts committed by several people in furtherance of a common intention.
The protests have also raised concerns over police identification and accountability.
CPI Rajya Sabha member P Sandosh Kumar on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that some Delhi Police personnel had removed or concealed their identity tags and name badges before detaining or using force against protesters.
Kumar, who said he was detained on Friday along with CPI workers and members of the All India Students’ Federation and All India Youth Federation, sought an investigation into the alleged use of force, arbitrary detentions, manhandling of protesters, deployment of plain-clothes personnel, concealment of identity badges and use of facial-recognition systems.
He urged the Home Minister to ensure that police personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar remain identifiable and accountable, and that constitutional safeguards, Supreme Court directives and Delhi Police rules are followed.
