Prepare for storm: Senior Delhi cop's post ahead of CJP protest

IPS Madhur Verma urged Delhi Police personnel to show restraint ahead of the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. The appeal came as the national capital turned into a fortress in anticipation of the stir.

In Short

• IPS officer Madhur Verma urged disciplined policing with dignity and minimum force
• CJP calls protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday seeking Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
• Delhi Police denied permission, CJP's Dipke says will go ahead with protest anyway

As Delhi gears up for the mega protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday, a senior IPS officer called on police personnel to exercise restraint and maintain peace.

"Prepare for the storm. Practise restraint. Protect the peace. Because the true strength of the police is not merely in controlling a crowd, but in doing so with discipline, dignity and minimum force," IPS Madhur Verma wrote on X.

The 2005-batch IPS officer’s post comes amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital ahead of the mass protest called by the CJP and the All India Students' Association (AISA) at Jantar Mantar tomorrow. They are demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, alleging large-scale irregularities in the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Delhi Police has denied permission for the protest, citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

DELHI TURNS INTO FORTRESS

Security has been beefed up across the capital, with police urging the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to shut entry and exit gates at 57 metro stations from 9 pm Friday and consider reducing train frequency on Saturday.

Railways have also cancelled certain Mail and Express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations between 4 am and 2 pm on October 10. The measures are aimed at preventing people from travelling to Delhi to join the protest.

The security build-up includes 221 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, comprising around 23,000 personnel.

Police have also identified locations for road blockades, prepared detention facilities and coordinated with transport and accommodation providers ahead of the demonstration, per media reports.

The extensive preparations have drawn criticism from CJP leaders, who have accused the government of attempting to intimidate protesters. Police have maintained that the measures are necessary to maintain law and order.

CJP QUESTIONS SCALE OF SECURITY MEASURES

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the government did not need to grant permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar, as it is a designated demonstration site.

"Shut down the entire country if you are scared of the youth," Dipke said.

Undeterred by the security arrangements, he stated, "We will march to Jantar Mantar come what may.”

CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka appealed to police personnel not to use force against students and young protesters, as was witnessed during the July 20 march to Parliament.

- Ends