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.
Unprecedented security
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 Mr. Shah has since stayed put in Delhi to monitor the situation, even as the Opposition INDIA bloc led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has staged two street-protests in the past three days.
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