Delhi Police establishes security strategy and blocking points for planned protest

Delhi Police has formulated a stringent security strategy for the Cockroach Janta Party protest scheduled at Jantar Mantar on October 10, establishing 37 blocking points and designated detention centres across the capital’s 15 districts.

Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar finalised the plan during a high-level meeting at the police headquarters, deciding against granting permission for any demonstrations. According to senior officers, the measures stem from assessments of two shortcomings during the July agitation: an underestimation of protester numbers and the overlapping deployment of different police units at single locations.

Under the new operational framework, every district and unit has been assigned a specific blocking point. Capital hotels and guest houses have been instructed to screen out incoming visitors arriving for the demonstration and alert local authorities to suspicious individuals. Unlike the previous protest, where authorities guided participants toward Jantar Mantar, district police have been directed to intercept protesters within their jurisdictions, turn them back, or transfer them immediately to local detention centres.

To manage senior leadership and potential crowd friction, authorities have planned specialized deployments. Security forces will position female police personnel at the forefront, equipped with small body-worn devices, following intelligence inputs suggesting protesters might place women at the front lines.

All district heads, units, and battalions are required to assemble at designated deployment points across the capital at 11 am for briefings. Central district personnel will report near the Ranjit Singh Flyover, North district forces near the Election Commission, and East district units near the Safdarjung Road roundabout. Other district forces have been assigned specific assembly areas, including Windsor Place, Janpath Metro station, and Vijay Chowk.

Specialized branches, including the Crime Branch, Economic Offences Wing, Special Cell, and the Delhi Armed Police battalions, have also been allocated distinct reporting positions around key areas such as Transport Bhawan and India Gate to maintain law and order.