City Can't Stop: Delhi Police Defends Restrictions Ahead of CJP Protest
Why Delhi Police Imposed Restrictions
Protecting Public Function: The police stated that the capital "can't be brought to a halt" by demonstrations and that temporary curbs are vital to keep the city functioning safely.
Balancing Rights: Emphasized that while the right to protest must be protected, the safety of residents, shopkeepers, and the city's economic interests are equally important.
Prior Violations & Violence: Cited past issues during a July protest where a permitted one-day event stretched for a month, injuring over 200 police personnel and involving more than 2,000 individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Safety Concerns at Jantar Mantar: Noted that Jantar Mantar has a limited capacity of about 1,000 people, and pointed to recent incidents involving overcrowding, clashes, and alleged assaults on women constables.
Unauthorised Protests Are Unlawful: Highlighted Supreme Court guidelines stating that gatherings without formal permission are illegal and subject to prosecution.
Key Traffic Advisory & Affected Locations
Diversions Across 30 Points: Traffic restrictions and regulated movements were enforced starting at 6:00 AM across 30 key locations in New Delhi and Central Delhi to manage crowd control and prevent gridlock.
Major Impact Zones: Vehicular movement was heavily disrupted or restricted around:
Jantar Mantar Road and Connaught Place
Shankar Road-Vande Mataram "T" Point and Dhaula Kuan Flyover
Jhandewalan, Panchkuian, and Mandi House
Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg and Guru Nanak Chowk
Traveler Recommendations: Commuters heading toward railway stations, inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs), and the airport via Central Delhi were advised to allow significant extra travel time, use the Delhi Metro where possible, and avoid non-essential travel.
Transit & Railway Disruptions
Train Cancellations: Northern Railway cancelled over 200 Mail, Express, and premium trains (including Rajdhani and Shatabdi services) arriving or scheduled to depart from major terminals like New Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Tilak Bridge.
Timing Restrictions: These precautionary measures were put in place to mitigate severe road congestion and passenger bottlenecks around transit hubs, particularly during the morning hours.
Personnel and Force Deployment
Massive Force Strength: Approximately 23,000 security personnel were deployed across Delhi to maintain order and prevent unauthorised assemblies.
Paramilitary Backing: Over 120 to 220 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)—including CRPF units brought in from other states—were integrated into the security grid alongside local police units.
Leadership & Supervision: The city was divided into 23 specialized security zones, overseen by more than 22 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officers focusing heavily on the New Delhi district and Lutyens' Delhi. A substantial contingent of women police personnel was also assigned to crowd management.
Surveillance and Tactical Gear
High-Tech Monitoring: Multi-layered barricading was reinforced with CCTV networks and Facial Recognition System (FRS)-enabled cameras at key entry points and flashpoints to identify individuals and monitor crowds.
Body-Worn Cameras: Police personnel stationed at pickets and sensitive spots were equipped with body-worn cameras to record interactions with protesters and ensure accountability.
Mass Transit Logistics: Authorities arranged around 600 low-floor buses parked strategically near pickets to facilitate the rapid handling and movement of detained protesters.
Area Restrictions and Enforcement
Strict Prohibitions: Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) was enforced to ban unauthorized assemblies.
Transit Lockdowns: Access across the capital was heavily curtailed, including restrictions or temporary closures across 57 Delhi Metro stations (such as Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, and Central Secretariat) and intensified checks at border entry points, railway stations, and bus terminals.
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