Delhi Police has stepped up security in the area around Ramlila Maidan ahead of the Congress-led INDIA bloc’s rally on November 1, with around 3,500 police personnel expected to be deployed, more than 200 CCTV cameras being used for surveillance and the venue divided into 14 zones to manage the gathering.
The police has been coordinating with rally organisers, traffic police and other concerned agencies to ensure appropriate law-and-order arrangements, effective traffic management and the smooth conduct of the rally, according to news agency PTI.
Delhi Police gave the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event on Friday. The arrangements include CCTV surveillance, body-worn cameras for police personnel and vehicles equipped with surveillance systems. Control rooms are also being set up to monitor the venue and surrounding areas. The meeting lasted nearly four hours and reviewed the law-and-order situation in the capital, including protests linked to the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
Giving details about Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner (central range), earlier said that each of the 14 zones will be overseen by an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank officer, while two zones will be monitored by officers of Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police rank. Around 3,500 police personnel are expected to be deployed, with 10 companies of reserve forces also being called in. On October 24, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting at Delhi Police headquarters, which was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior police officers. The review came ahead of the November 1 rally, even as the police continued to deal with demonstrations by Opposition parties and other groups.
