Police divides district into 20 zones ahead of protest, security tightened with extra CCTV

Delhi Police has divided the New Delhi district into 20 zones to maintain law and order ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s proposed protest at the Jantar Mantar on Saturday.

Each of the 20 zones will be monitored by a joint commissioner, a deputy commissioner and an additional deputy commissioner of police to ensure close supervision of the security arrangements.

Special commissioners heading various units will also closely monitor the zones and coordinate with senior officers, whenever required, to respond to any law-and-order situation, a source said. Additional CCTV cameras have been installed at important locations in New Delhi, Central Delhi and North Delhi districts as part of the security measures, the source said.

The arrangements were discussed at a meeting of senior Delhi Police officers at the police headquarters on Friday to review the security arrangements ahead of the CJP protest.

In a post on X, Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma urged Delhi Police personnel to practise restraint. Verma said the police’s strength lies in handling crowds with “discipline, dignity and minimum force”.

The post comes as the force deals with weeks of back-to-back demonstrations. Reports this week said the pressure has continued since the Jantar Mantar protests earlier this year, with the latest round beginning on October 2 when Opposition parties demonstrated against the Election Commission over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Officials said the same teams are often moved from one site to the next with little rest, and that backup units have been kept close by.

The force’s official handle has also posted material on the personnel on the ground. A post on October 7 showed injured women officers at a protest site, one with a torn badge and another with a bleeding hand. One report said the posts follow the force’s “negative” portrayal during the July protest at Jantar Mantar.

Delhi Police said more than 118 personnel of the Delhi Police and central forces were injured during the July 20 protests, including officers of Special Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Additional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner ranks. Police said 60 protesters were also injured, while organisers said hundreds were hurt.

It has also been reported that the Rapid Action Force used pellet guns that day, after Delhi Police had said none were used. Delhi Police registered an FIR in August over pellet injuries to a 19-year-old.

The police have also moved against social media content. A notice from the force’s IFSO unit, dated October 5, asked X to remove 11 posts that police said showed their intervention without the context of earlier obstruction and resistance. On October 6, police arrested Nadeem Ahmed Ameen from Mewat for allegedly circulating a fabricated AI-generated video involving a police personnel.

Additional DCP (New Delhi) Manjeet Sheoran on Friday asked journalists to keep their distance from protesters, alleging that some media personnel obstruct police work.

His remarks came days after three women who identified themselves as journalists alleged sexual harassment and manhandling by police personnel during the October 3 protest at Jantar Mantar.

Police said multi-layered barricading will be in place on Saturday, with CCTV monitoring from control rooms and face recognition cameras across the capital. Border points, including Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri, and Kapashera, are under added watch.