The Centre extended the deployment of 270 CAPF companies in Delhi until November 16. Officials said this move helps maintain law and order during the festival season and the upcoming INDIA bloc rally on November 1. These forces were first brought to the city for protests by the Cockroach Janta Party.

These combat units were brought to Delhi for the protests by the Cockroach Janta Party early this month

The Centre has extended the deployment of 270 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in Delhi till November 16 for the third time this month, citing the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1, the possibility of "flash protests" by certain groups and the need to maintain law and order during the ongoing festival season, official sources said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved the extension of the deployment from October 31 to November 16 at the request of the Delhi Police, which has been asked to coordinate the deployment of these forces, the sources told PTI.

The 270 companies were initially brought to Delhi earlier this month in view of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Their deployment has now been extended twice before this latest order.

The Congress has called a 'Chalo Dilli March' under the banner of the INDIA bloc against "vote chori". The march will culminate in a rally at Ramlila Maidan in central Delhi on November 1.

Of the 270 companies that will remain deployed alongside the local police, 125 belong to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including 17 women personnel units; 20 to the Rapid Action Force (RAF); 46 to the Border Security Force (BSF); 39 to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP); 31 to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB); and 12 to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

A CAPF company has a sanctioned strength of 100 personnel, but its effective operational manpower is about 70-72 personnel.

Parts of Delhi witnessed CJP protests on October 9, with the outfit demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties subsequently held protests with the same demand.

The CJP also organised a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration on October 16 and has extended its support to the INDIA bloc protest.