More SIR Protests In Delhi? Police Seek Extension Of CAPF Deployment Till October 20

INDIA Bloc's march to the Supreme Court and filing of a petition has brought the recent wave of protests to an end. But the security force deployment is likely to remain in place until October 20, as the Delhi Police has sought an extension of the deployment of 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The Delhi Police have taken this step citing the possibility of renewed agitation and law-and-order challenges at key locations in the national capital.

On October 12, the Office of the Special Commissioner of Police, Operations, wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and requested the extension of the current deployment period to October 20.

According to reports, a total of 301 companies had been provided by the MHA until October 12 in two batches. The first approval came for 221 companies on October 6 and then for 80 companies on October 8.

A report by News18 suggests that the intelligence inputs regarding further protests and marches by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) or other organisations have triggered the request.

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For the past seven days, the capital witnessed a series of protests and marches by CJP, AISA and the Congress-led INDIA bloc.

While the INDIA bloc protests have temporarily stopped, the CJP is likely to return to the capital as it has sought permission from the Delhi Police. On Monday, CJP's Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das reached the Parliament Street Police Station and sought a fresh peace protest date, warning that if no permission is granted within 24 hours, they will hold another massive peaceful demonstration.

Notably, the CJP tried to hold a march to Jantar Mantar on October 10. The protest became a flashpoint as thousands of protesters and journalists were detained and a police crackdown was reported. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, Ranka, and Das were detained and later subjected to preventive arrest.

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A day later, the three CJP leaders signed bail bonds of Rs 50,000 each and were released on the orders of the Executive Magistrate with a condition of 'maintaining peace' for one year.