New Delhi: As Delhi Police braces for the anti-SIR protest on Oct 10, preparations are being worked out on multiple fronts, with the focus ranging from security at the city’s entry points and deployment of additional forces to crowd control and monitoring of potential troublemakers.Police have not given permission to protest.On Wednesday, senior Delhi Police officers held a meeting at the police headquarters to review the arrangements and discuss possible contingencies. “Officers were asked about the entry points into the city and how they planned to man them so that traffic movement was not disrupted. Checks should especially be increased in the bordering areas,” a source said.Delhi Police has also sent a requisition to the ministry of home affairs (MHA), seeking the deployment of 200 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to assist with security and crowd management. The force is also planning on bringing in more women personnel.The frontline formations have been told to be equipped with anti-riot gear. Police cameramen deployed to record the proceedings will also be provided protective equipment. Body cameras are another key component of the plan. Officers want to ensure the deployment is adequately documented.Keeping a close watch on potential troublemakers is also among the major points discussed during security meetings. Sources said SHOs have been asked to keep a close watch on known troublemakers in their respective areas in the run-up to the protest.Police are apprehensive that some of them could attempt to mix with the crowd and provoke protesters or create a confrontation with police personnel.Police teams are reaching out to bus operators, PG owners and students. Bus operators are being monitored to ascertain whether buses have been booked for Oct 10 and whether large groups are likely to be transported to the protest.Police are also meeting students and advising them to stay away from activities that could lead to a law-and-order situation. “They are being asked to cooperate with the police and ensure that they do not get involved in any activity that could lead to a law-and-order situation,” a source said.During these outreach programmes, officers are also urging students to remain focused on their education and careers. They also reached out to resident welfare associations (RWAs) and market welfare associations (MWAs).With the Oct 10 protest expected to draw a significant mobilisation, officers are examining the movement of people into Delhi, deployment at vulnerable points and crowd-control arrangements.The effort, sources said, is to maintain security while ensuring that the protest does not disrupt regular traffic movement or inconvenience residents.
