Delhi Security Alert: Over 25,000 personnel deployed ahead of the CJP’s Lehra Do Tiranga march as Central Park closes and restrictions tighten.
Police tighten security across Connaught Place, Delhi as the CJP plans a march over alleged electoral-roll irregularities and recent arrests.
Qalam Times News Network
New Delhi, October 16, 2026
NEW DELHI: Delhi Security Alert has been intensified ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed Lehra Do Tiranga march, with more than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel reportedly deployed across the national capital and surrounding areas. Authorities have tightened security around Connaught Place, Central Park and Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, while prohibitory orders have been imposed to prevent disruptions and maintain public order.
The Delhi security alert comes as the CJP prepares to stage a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The planned march has also drawn attention following the arrests of party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka earlier in the week.
Delhi Security Alert: Central Park Closed as Police Strengthen Security and Monitor Metro Stations
With Jantar Mantar no longer designated as an authorised protest venue, the CJP has called for supporters to assemble at Central Park in Connaught Place. Neha Bora of the All India Students’ Association and members of the Aam Aadmi Party are also expected to participate, according to the information available about the planned demonstration.
Ahead of the gathering, Delhi Police appealed to the public not to assemble at Central Park. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) separately announced that the park would remain closed to visitors on Friday and Saturday. Its notice cited “administrative reasons”, with the closure coming amid preparations for the proposed protest.
Senior Police Officers Review Delhi Security Arrangements
On Thursday, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar chaired a high-level meeting to assess the security arrangements. Senior officials, including the Joint Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police for the New Delhi district, attended the meeting.
The discussions focused on maintaining law and order, managing crowds and preventing potential disturbances in sensitive locations. The extensive deployment is intended to secure key public spaces and ensure that essential services continue to operate.
A senior police officer indicated that suspending Metro services was not under consideration at present. Such a step, the officer said, would be treated as a last resort if circumstances made it necessary.
Prohibitory Orders in Force Across Connaught Place, New Delhi
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police and spokesperson Neha Yadav said prohibitory orders had already been imposed in Connaught Place and neighbouring areas.
According to the police statement, the restrictions were intended to maintain peace and protect lives as well as public and private property. The measures form part of the broader effort to manage the situation around the planned demonstration.
However, the police indicated that a limited group of participants could potentially be accommodated at an appropriate location, provided they carried the national flag and sang the national anthem. Any such arrangement would depend on the authorities’ assessment and applicable restrictions.
Additional CCTV Cameras Installed at Key Locations in Delhi
Security surveillance has also been strengthened around Central Park and Rajiv Chowk Metro Station. CCTV cameras were being installed at the entrance to Central Park, which reportedly did not previously have camera coverage. Additional cameras were also being fitted at Gates 1 and 3 of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station.
The expanded surveillance is expected to assist security personnel in monitoring crowd movements and identifying potential trouble spots as the scheduled march approaches.
The security arrangements have unfolded alongside wider concerns about the treatment of journalists covering protests. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that police in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai detained journalists, despite assurances given by the Solicitor-General to the Supreme Court that journalists and lawyers would not be obstructed.
Separately, the Supreme Court reportedly declined to entertain an urgent hearing concerning the closure of Central Park. The development adds a legal dimension to the dispute over access to the proposed gathering site.
As the situation develops, the key issues remain the enforcement of restrictions, the possibility of an authorised gathering, the continuity of Metro services and the ability of journalists to cover events without obstruction.
