Delhi protests over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls have led to additional security around Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s residence and the Election Commission office, while thousands of Central Reserve Police Force personnel are being deployed in the capital ahead of a planned October 10 demonstration.
Mr. Kumar already has Z+ security, the country’s second-highest security category after the Special Protection Group cover provided to the Prime Minister and his immediate family. The latest measure does not change his existing security classification. Instead, personnel kept on standby have been activated in response to the prevailing security situation, officials said.
Additional personnel have been deployed outside the Chief Election Commissioner’s residence in New Moti Bagh Colony, at the Election Commission office and for his personal security. Officials in the Central Industrial Security Force said the deployment was based on threat perception and described it as a strengthened protection arrangement.
“The officer already has Z+ security. We have security personnel on standby, and based on the situation they are deployed. In the current situation, the personnel on standby have been deployed, which is a robust security measure,” a CISF official said.
The Delhi Police have also been instructed to increase deployment around the residence and other sensitive locations. An official from the Southwest district police said the entire residential complex had been secured and staff had been alerted to check unauthorised entry.
The enhanced arrangements follow intensified demonstrations by Opposition parties against the Special Intensive Revision process. INDIA bloc leaders, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, were scheduled to stage a protest on October 8 for the third consecutive day, demanding action over alleged irregularities and Mr. Kumar’s resignation.
Separately, central forces are being mobilised in Delhi to support the city police during the planned October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar and to maintain law and order. The deployment is expected to cover central Delhi and the New Delhi district, including areas around key government buildings and constitutional institutions.
According to deployment orders seen by The Hindu, at least 7,000 CRPF personnel are being brought to Delhi from Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Around 3,000 personnel, including members of the Rapid Action Force, are being mobilised from Chhattisgarh, while another 4,000 are being brought in from West Bengal.
An order dated October 6 directed CRPF companies in West Bengal to be released “in zero time” for deployment in Delhi. The Chhattisgarh Sector was asked to keep designated companies ready to move by special train. The units were also instructed to ensure that anti-riot equipment was available before deployment.
The mobilisation follows repeated Opposition marches and gatherings in central Delhi targeting the Election Commission over the electoral-roll revision exercise. Security agencies have been asked to coordinate closely and adjust deployments according to the situation on the ground as further protests are expected.
