Delhi braces for massive protest with 35,000 police, drones and metro shutdowns

A large-scale demonstration organized by the CJP is set for Jantar Mantar, with police estimating up to 7,000 participants despite the denial of a permit. In response, Delhi Police have mobilized roughly 35,000 security personnel, equipped with body-worn cameras, drones and facial-recognition technology to monitor the crowd and document any clashes. Six venues—including Chhatrasal Stadium and Rajiv Gandhi Stadium—have been earmarked as detention centres for arrested protesters.

The city’s traffic network will be heavily rerouted, and about 45 Metro stations will remain closed from Friday night through Saturday evening, while internet services are limited in central districts. Police have appealed for calm, emphasizing humanity over uniform, as political figures like Arvind Kejriwal and activist Abhijeet Dipke urge citizens to exercise their right to protest over alleged electoral roll deletions.