Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC will be imposed in Delhi from Sunday in wake of the Jat community’s plan to gherao the Parliament on Monday. To keep the protesters from entering the Capital, all border points will be under heavy police surveillance.
“Three-tier security arrangements have been made. Tractors and trollies will not be allowed inside Delhi,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Dependra Pathak. He added that besides their own personnel, 110 companies of additional forces will be strategically deployed across the city on March 20.
Commuting nightmare
The extraordinary measures, which are likely to throw life out of gear in the city, will be enforced in view of Jat groups threatening to intensify their agitation for quota in education and employment. The protest has been called by the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (ABJASS).
Commuters will be especially affected as all routes coming to New Delhi district, including Rajiv Chowk, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and parts of south Delhi, will be restricted.
Cops on alert
“Cross-over of vehicles in New Delhi district will not be allowed unless one has a bonafide reason to enter: if you work in the area or if it’s an emergency vehicle,” said JCP (Traffic) Garima Bhatnagar. “We will be checking if they have a legitimate reason to enter New Delhi. They might have to show evidence for the same.”
Checking points
Police sources told The Hindu that movement of people will be regulated and single-file checking may be done at certain points, if required.
“Border areas such as Singhu, Tikri, Dhansa, NH-8, Badarpur, Loni and the DND flyway will see heavy police deployment. We may also use drones and barricades. Law and order will be given preference over public convenience,” said a senior police official.
Talking about measures for protesters who might have already entered the city, Mr. Pathak said: “They will be contained and under no circumstances will an agitation or dharna be allowed”.
10 lakh people expected
National president of ABJASS, Yashpal Malik said that lakhs of Jats community will arrive in Delhi on March 20 and protest at the borders if prevented from entering the Capital. “Not only will protesters come from neighbouring States, but Jats living in Delhi will also join the agitation. There will be about 10 lakh people coming. If the police prevent us from entering Delhi, we will protest at the borders,” Mr. Malik said.
Metro affected
As per direction from the Delhi Police, Metro trains will not travel beyond the city’s borders from 11.30 p.m on Sunday.
Line-2 (Guru Dronacharya to Huda City Centre), Line-3 and 4 (Kaushambi to Vaishali and Noida Sector-15 to Noida City Centre) and Line-6 (Sarai to Escorts Mujesar) will be affected. The services to all these Metro stations will be resumed only after getting clearance from Delhi Police.
Meanwhile, 12 stations in central Delhi will be shut from 8 p.m. on Sunday, till further orders.
The 12 stations include Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Janpath, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, R.K. Ashram Marg, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Shivaji Stadium
However, interchange facility will be available at all interchange stations.
Taking all precautions
Regarding the ongoing CBSE board exams of Class XII students, the police said that children should start earlier than normal in order to reach their respective exam centres on time.
“Parents and candidates should take pre-emptive measures to reach their destination on time as checking and blockade can cause delays,” said Mr. Pathak.
In an advisory, the Union Home Ministry has told the Delhi Police and governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to invoke CrPC 144 to stop the protesters from reaching the Capital.
