Delhi police seeks to keep 273 CAPF units deployed until Oct 20 amid election commissioner protests

Delhi police submitted a letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs seeking to keep 273 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces stationed in the city until Oct 20, citing the risk of unrest over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The original deployment of 301 CAPF companies was to conclude on Monday, but 28 of the additional 80 units had not yet arrived. Officials highlighted the possibility of protests by the Cockroach Janta Party, Bhim Army, student groups and other political factions at sensitive locations including Jantar Mantar, the Election Commission, Parliament House and India Gate.

Demonstrators are objecting to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and opposition figures such as Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have approached the Supreme Court with a petition challenging the Election Commission’s actions. In the preceding days, the capital was heavily fortified, 45 metro stations were closed and numerous protesters, including party leaders and former chief ministers, were detained.

Police also filed FIRs for barricade-breaking and graffiti related to the Monday protests. The Supreme Court registry noted defects in the petition filed by the INDIA bloc leaders.