Delhi Police Deploys 6,000 Personnel, 220 CAPF Companies Ahead of CJP’s ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ March

The Delhi Police has stepped up security in the national capital ahead of the ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march scheduled to take place at Connaught Place on Friday. The march was called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) after its leaders, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were sent to Tihar Jail for entering Jantar Mantar and waving the national flag on October 13. Police officials said the two had violated a peace bond they had previously furnished.

More than 6,000 Delhi Police personnel, 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and an expanded CCTV surveillance network have been deployed in the New Delhi area ahead of the proposed demonstration.

Delhi Police Deploys 6,000 Personnel, 220 CAPF Companies

The elaborate security arrangements cover Connaught Place, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar, nearby Metro stations and other sensitive locations in Lutyens’ Delhi. Additional personnel are being mobilised from other districts to prevent any law-and-order situation during the proposed march, scheduled for 5 pm.

Police have erected barricades at several locations, including Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, ITO and Sansad Marg.

Officers said the focus was on securing multiple entry and exit points across the sprawling commercial district without bringing public movement to a standstill.

A senior police officer said 5,000 additional personnel had been kept in reserve from other districts to strengthen the deployment if required.

The arrangements are being coordinated with the deployment of 220 CAPF companies earmarked for New Delhi. These forces will also cover adjoining districts, border areas and other important locations. Each CAPF company comprises around 100 personnel.

Thirty CAPF companies will be deployed during each shift, with three shifts planned through the day. The deployment could be increased depending on the situation, particularly if large crowds gather or the demonstration continues into the night.

“If the crowd swells during the night and we need more security, we will increase the strength to 60 companies in one shift,” the officer said.

CCTV Surveillance Increased, Central Park Closed

Surveillance has also been stepped up, with more than 10 CCTV cameras installed in and around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk to monitor the gathering and preserve footage in case of violations or untoward incidents.

“Since there were hardly any cameras at Central Park and a large gathering of people is expected, we have installed new cameras,” the officer said.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that Central Park will remain closed to the public on Friday and Saturday for “administrative reasons”. The Delhi Police, meanwhile, has indicated that it could facilitate a select group of people to wave the national flag and sing the national anthem at a suitable alternative location.

The security plan also accounts for the park's closure, with the NDMC requesting adequate arrangements to prevent unauthorised entry.

Police Deny Permission For March, Warn Of Action

The march was announced amid a stand-off between the CJP and the Delhi Police over demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The call for the march followed the remand of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to judicial custody after their entry into Jantar Mantar on October 13.

Student organisations, activists and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporters are also expected to join the proposed demonstration.

Delhi Police PRO Neha Yadav said the march had not been granted permission and that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), restricting mass gatherings, were already in force in Connaught Place and surrounding areas.

Yadav said market and trade associations in and around Connaught Place had submitted written requests seeking protection for their establishments, citing concerns that large gatherings were affecting business.

Police have appealed to people to stay away from unauthorised gatherings and warned that action would be taken against those violating prohibitory orders or disturbing public peace.

“We are ready to grant permission to a select few protesters for a flag march at some other spot,” Yadav said, adding that any alternative arrangement would have to be made at a suitable location.

Senior officers are also planning the deployment and movement of personnel to ensure that the security cordon does not unnecessarily disrupt commuters and commercial activity, while accounting for the possibility of crowds spilling into adjoining market areas.