New Delhi, October 23: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the deployment of 273 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the national capital until October 31 amid concerns over possible flash protests by political and other groups, official sources said on Friday.
This is the second extension of the deployment, which was initially arranged following protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) earlier this month.
According to officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued directions to the Delhi Police and the concerned CAPFs on October 22 to coordinate the continued deployment. The extension was approved following a request from the Delhi Police, which had sought additional forces to maintain law and order.
Officials said the Delhi Police had flagged the possibility of sudden demonstrations by political and other organisations at various sensitive locations across the city. The additional deployment was considered necessary to ensure adequate security and prevent any disruption.
Of the 273 companies being retained in Delhi, 125 belong to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including 20 women personnel units. The deployment also includes 20 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 46 of the Border Security Force (BSF), 39 of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 31 of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 12 of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
While a CAPF company has a sanctioned strength of 100 personnel, its effective operational strength is generally around 70 to 72 personnel.
Parts of Delhi witnessed CJP protests on October 9, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties subsequently held demonstrations over the same issue.
The CJP also organised a demonstration titled ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ on October 16.
The continued deployment is intended to support the Delhi Police in maintaining public order and responding to any potential demonstrations at sensitive locations until the end of the month.
