Delhi Deploys 40,000 Personnel to Block Election Commissioner Protests
Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have locked down the capital to prevent protests by the Cockroach Janta Party and INDIA bloc against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have launched a massive security operation to block protests scheduled for October 10 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Authorities have deployed between 20,000 and 26,000 Central Armed Police Forces personnel, provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs of India, alongside up to 20,000 Delhi Police officers. The security surge follows demands from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the INDIA bloc for Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Police denied permission for the CJP's planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar, citing late application and previous rule violations. Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad confirmed the denial, while the city implemented prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. To maintain order, the Government of Delhi ordered the closure of all retail liquor vends on October 9 and 10. Security measures include multi-layered barricading, facial recognition surveillance of 2,800 individuals with criminal records, and the establishment of 10 temporary detention centers at venues like Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
Beyond the CJP protest, the INDIA bloc organized a march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to seek President Droupadi Murmu's intervention. Authorities have monitored entry routes from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, while warning of potential closures at 57 metro stations and train cancellations to New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticized the restrictions, questioning why protests were permitted in Mumbai and Bengaluru but blocked in the capital.
