23,000 CAPF officers on duty, border states on alert: Delhi braces for CJP's October 10 protest with multi-layerd barricading

Delhi is preparing for an extensive security operation ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed nationwide protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar on October 10, with thousands of security personnel being mobilised across the capital, NDTV reported. The Union Home Ministry has cleared the deployment of 221 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) companies in Delhi between October 8 and 12. This will be in addition to 110 CAPF companies provided to the Delhi Police. Around 23,000 CAPF personnel and 20,000 Delhi Police personnel are expected to be deployed during the protest. The CAPF deployment includes 85 CRPF companies, 10 SSB companies, seven ITBP companies, seven RAF companies and one CISF company. The security arrangements will extend beyond the protest site, with authorities planning heightened surveillance at Delhi's borders as well as railway stations and bus terminals. Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, along with other neighbouring states, have also been asked to remain alert. Police are also preparing for possible restrictions on movement in the capital. According to NDTV, all New Delhi Metro stations could be closed and markets may also be shut if required. Multi-layered barricading is expected, while CCTV cameras will be monitored from a control room. Face Recognition System cameras will also be installed across Delhi. BNSS 163, which empowers an Executive Magistrate to issue urgent orders in the interest of maintaining public order, will be in force during the period. Sources said protests and gatherings of people will not be permitted. The planned deployment is larger than the security arrangements made for the CJP's July protest at Jantar Mantar, when approximately 150 CAPF companies were deployed. During the farmers' protest, 93 CAPF companies had been deployed. The security preparations follow the CJP's announcement of its October 10 demonstration. Party spokesperson Saurav Das said on Wednesday that the protest would be held at Jantar Mantar against the poll body chief. He said the party would formally inform the Delhi Police about the programme and cooperate with authorities on security, law and order and traffic arrangements. The announcement comes as Opposition parties continue their confrontation with the Election Commission. During the INDIA bloc's protest in Delhi, several leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, were detained and subsequently released. The Opposition is now expected to decide its next steps at a meeting of MPs on Thursday afternoon. The leaders are scheduled to meet at around 1:45 PM, with a possible march to Rajghat also on the agenda.