Barricades, checks, diversions: Central lanes choke amid protest
Amid the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for a protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, Delhi Police imposed traffic restrictions on most roads leading to Central Delhi, especially Jantar Mantar and Parliament Street, from early morning, with barricades, vehicle checks and diversions slowing movement on several roads.
At every road leading to the protest site, police personnel, along with paramilitary forces, were seen deployed in large numbers to monitor traffic and prevent any gathering in the vicinity. Though the footfall was low in the city, heavy traffic congestion was reported across several parts of central Delhi due to tightened security arrangements.
Apart from curbs, police are also conducting searches at various spots and key stretches leading to the protest site, which has caused congestion. While senior officials maintain they are ensuring no trouble for regular commuters, traffic around Central Delhi is moving very slowly. Forces manned the barricades to closely monitor vehicular movement across the capital. They checked ID cards and other documents before allowing entry to those having offices in central Delhi.
The heightened security came amid traffic curbs, metro restrictions, train cancellations and a mobile internet suspension in central and other parts of the national capital to “maintain law and order” in view of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) call for a protest on Saturday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
