New Delhi: The “Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao” rally at Ramlila Maidan, organised by the opposition INDIA bloc to protest alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the SIR process, was held amid heightened security across the city.Delhi Police deployed about 2,500–3,000 personnel, including 10 companies of additional forces. While 450 CCTV cameras were installed at strategic locations, many police personnel also wore body cameras to monitor the rally, officers said. Drones were deployed to keep a watch on the vast swathe of Ramlila Maidan.Police had prepared extensively for the INDIA bloc procession to the venue that preceded the rally. They also held multiple meetings with the organisers to ensure that the rally proceeded smoothly.The INDIA bloc functionaries and their supporters first moved to the Ramlila grounds in vehicles around 1.30pm. They reached the venue around 2.30pm. The top INDIA bloc functionaries drove to Ramlila Maidan in an open tiger safari vehicle brought from Ranthambore. The procession, which started from Connaught Place, had a large number of supporters of the various parties. Rahul sat in the lone front seat. He, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra greeted the packed crowds at regular points along the choked road.It was a security nightmare for the heavily protected politicians, but it was also a rare interaction between the leading faces of the protest and their supporters. The others in the open vehicle were National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, NCP MP Supriya Sule, Congress’ KC Venugopal, CPI (M-L)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPM’s MA Baby, RJD’s main face Tejaswi Yadav, CPI’s D Raja, among others.Police also coordinated with traffic personnel to regulate vehicle movement.“We are ensuring that residents are not inconvenienced in any manner and the entry of protesters to Ramlila Maidan is also facilitated. Police personnel have been stationed at the enclosures and gangways set up by the organisers to ensure safety. 450 CCTVs have been installed in and around the site. We are monitoring them from a control room,” DCP (central) Rohit Rajbir Singh told mediapersons.Metal detectors gates and frisking booths were erected at the entry and exit points of Ramlila. The operation was monitored using drones.The streets around the protest site were cordoned off and only pedestrians were allowed to enter. A mobile police station van and a mobile command and control vehicle were stationed near Ramlila Maidan. Several other anti-riot vehicles were placed near the barricades across central Delhi.Key intersections, such as Netaji Subhash Marg T-point, Rajghat, Delhi Gate, ITO A-point, Ajmeri Gate red light, Ranjeet Singh Flyover on Barakhamba Road, Jhandewalan roundabout, Turkman Gate and Mirdard Chowk, were restricted for movement. Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg between ITO and Delhi Gate, JLN Marg between Rajghat and Ajmeri Gate, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, Minto Road, DBG Road and Barakhamba Road were barricaded.
