Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to invite the public to join his protest at the high-security New Delhi zone worsened the law and order situation in the area. The Delhi Police were forced to deploy extra security in the area.
According to a senior Delhi Police officer, on Monday morning, around 1,200 Delhi Police personnel along with the Rapid Action Force were deployed at the protest venue. However, after Mr. Kejriwal called upon the public to join him, the number had to be increased to 2,000 by afternoon. By evening, around 3,000 personnel had to be stationed.
Later in the day, Minister for State for Home, R.P.N. Singh tweeted: “Around 4,000 security personnel deployed for Delhi CMs dharna. If CM serious about safety of Delhi, let these cops go back to policing.” He further tweeted that leave of all Delhi police personnel will be cancelled.
According to the police, they also had to deal with false allegations and abusive languages from the protesters.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi), S.B.S. Tyagi, said the protesters tried to break the barricades at some places where Section 144 of the CrPC had been imposed ahead of the CM’s dharna.
“Some protesters said the policemen misbehaved with women there. These are false allegations. We had deployed sufficient women personnel in the area for their safety,” said Mr. Tyagi.
An Aam Admi Party member alleged that one of their MLAs was manhandled by the police. However, Joint Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Mukesh Kumar Meena contradicted the claim. He said none of the AAP leaders were detained.
In minor clashes, five police personnel sustained injuries and two of them have been admitted to the RML Hospital.
The protest has also led to worries that the Republic Day parade preparations could be hampered, but the police have said they would allow no such disruption.
