Delhi turns into fortress
40,000 personnel deployed; 45 Metro stations shut, trains cancelled ahead of CJP protest
Delhi turned into a fortress after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was denied permission to protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. An unprecedented security clampdown began on Friday with 45 Metro stations closed, and Delhi-bound trains cancelled.
More than 40,000 security personnel were deployed across the national Capital; the city’s border points, railway stations, bus terminals, hotels, and other sensitive locations saw intensive checks, and social media was asked not to share misleading information. Internet services will be suspended within a four km radius of Jantar Mantar from 10 pm tonight to 10 pm. Colleges postponed examinations, while schools decided to switch to online teaching.
The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) advised shops, offices, restaurants, and other establishments in Connaught Place to remain closed as a precaution. Restaurants and hotels were advised to restrict bookings while the police are reportedly coordinating with cab aggregators like Ola and Uber to regulate movement towards Lutyens’ Delhi. The Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat stations in Delhi will also remain closed from 9 pm tonight, ie, October 9, until 10 pm on October 10.
As the slew of restrictions rolled out, the Delhi police, responsible for ensuring peace, penned an emotional open letter to the citizens on Friday highlighting the importance of mutual respect and reminding people that police personnel, too, have families and loved ones. In a post on social media titled “An Open Letter to Every Citizen”, it said that beyond uniforms, opinions and disagreements, everyone is human first.
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has directed all States and union territories to coordinate with Delhi Police and take preventive measures to stop CJP supporters from mobilising towards the national Capital. Citing potential law-and-order concerns, the MHA flagged intelligence inputs suggesting protesters could try to enter Delhi despite the police rejecting the group’s request to hold a gathering, and called for real-time intelligence sharing and strict implementation of preventive measures.
Explaining the need for the massive arrangements, the Delhi Police said they were to prevent protesters from staging an unauthorised sit-in at Jantar Mantar and maintain law and order across the city amid the possibility of large-scale mobilisation.
Learning from what senior officers believed were two serious lapses during the CJP agitation in July, the Delhi Police has drawn up what it calls a ‘fail-safe plan’ for the Jantar Mantar protest on Saturday. As part of this, it has refused every permission sought, planned how to restrict protesters within their districts, set up dedicated detention centres in all 15 districts, and stitched together 37 blocking points across the New Delhi district, each pinned to a specific district or unit.
Police said the elaborate security arrangements aim to prevent protesters from staging an unauthorised sit-in at Jantar Mantar and to maintain law and order across the city amid the possibility of large-scale mobilisation.
Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner Nupur Prasad said on Friday that police have denied permission for the proposed October 10 demonstration, citing the short notice given for the event and alleged violations of rules and directions during an earlier protest. She said the application seeking permission for the demonstration was submitted on October 7, just three days before the proposed gathering, adding that rules require such applications to be submitted at least 10 days in advance.
Police said the application did not meet the stipulated notice period and that the conduct of the July demonstration had raised concerns over compliance with directions issued by authorities. As part of the security arrangements, Delhi Police conducted mock drills at several locations.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the provision for prohibitory orders, is in force in New Delhi district. It empowers authorities to issue orders to prevent potential disturbances.
Heavy security bandobast has been made, with more than 120 Central Armed Police Forces companies expected to be involved in the security arrangements. Liquor shops across Delhi have been ordered to remain closed on October 9 and 10 as a preventive measure. Entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate, will remain closed from 9 pm on Friday till further notice. According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), restrictions will also continue on October 10, with the interchange facility remaining available at all affected stations except for the New Delhi metro station.
Other prominent stations where entry and exit gates will remain closed include Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Indraprastha, ITO, Delhi Gate, Khan Market, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Hauz Khas and INA. The list also includes Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Millia Islamia, Okhla Vihar, Kalindi Kunj, Lajpat Nagar, Ashram, Sarai Kale Khan-Nizamuddin, Welcome, Shahdara, Rithala, Rohini, Azadpur, Kashmere Gate and Shivaji Stadium, among others.
Railway services are also expected to be disrupted, with several trains scheduled to arrive at or depart from New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on Saturday cancelled. Railways have cancelled 61 Delhi-bound trains between Friday and Saturday. Railways cancelled 40 trains on Friday, and 20 stand cancelled for Saturday. The restrictions aim to prevent large groups from converging on sensitive locations and moving toward areas where demonstrations are not permitted.
The proposed measures could affect office-goers, students, shoppers and other commuters who rely on the metro for daily travel. Passengers have been advised to check official announcements. The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) also issued an advisory to social media platforms on October 8, expressing concern over the online circulation of false, misleading, manipulated, or out-of-context information related to the ongoing protests. The IT Ministry has expressed apprehension that such unlawful content may disturb public order and social tranquillity, raise law-and-order concerns, and incite violence.
Meanwhile, police have stepped up monitoring of social media platforms, with more than 200 content creators reportedly under scrutiny in connection with mobilisation for the protest.
Borders of the national Capital will also face heightened surveillance, and additional security cameras have been installed. Police sources said restrictions on vehicles entering New Delhi after 6 am on Saturday are possible, depending on the security assessment and the situation on the ground. Police are checking hotels, lodges, guest houses and dharamshalas as part of the preventive security exercise. Police are also issuing appeals from various mosques and temples, urging people to maintain peace.
Bus terminals across the Capital will witness heightened vigilance, with security personnel monitoring passengers and vehicles arriving from neighbouring States. The airport and its approach roads are expected to remain under heightened security, with additional checks and surveillance to keep passenger movement orderly. Travellers heading to the airport have been advised to allow extra time for possible congestion and security checks when planning their journeys.
Police will closely monitor people linked to the protest and assess attempts to mobilise supporters on social media.
More than 200 content creators have reportedly come under scrutiny as part of the monitoring exercise. Police teams are examining online posts and messages relating to mobilisation, gathering points and the proposed demonstration. Police said security personnel will monitor developments throughout Saturday and respond to any incidents, including crowd build-up, traffic obstructions and attempts to breach barricades.
CJP Protest: Delhi Under Security Lockdown
Dipke urges public to attend protest
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday urged people to come to Jantar Mantar in large numbers for the protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, and said he would not be intimidated even if he was detained or faced action under stringent laws.
No internet within 4 km of Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police sources said internet services will be suspended within a 4-kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar from 10 pm on October 9 to 10 pm on October 10.
Railways cancels trains
In a rare move, the Railway Board on Friday cancelled dozens of trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10, ahead of a massive protest.
20 zones set up across New Delhi district
Delhi Police has divided the New Delhi district into 20 zones to maintain law and order ahead of the CJP-proposed protest, officials said on Friday. Additional CCTV cameras have been installed at important locations in New Delhi.
Delhi Metro to restrict entry at 45 stations
Entry and exit gates at 45 Delhi Metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk and Kashmere Gate, will remain closed from 9 pm on Friday till further notice due to security reasons ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday.
