Lockdown in central Delhi ahead of Jat stir
ON GUARD Police impose section 144, massive traffic restrictions, call 110 companies of paramilitary forces from outside; officers told to keep watch on pockets with high Jat population, stop tractors
As Jat agitators demanding quota threaten to march to Parliament on Monday, Delhi Police have imposed CrPc 144 across the Capital from Sunday evening, legally prohibiting anyone from gathering on the streets.
In central Delhi, the police will ensure that only “bonafide” people, which include employees working in the area, students and patients, are allowed entry from Sunday night.
The restrictions are part of the “three-tier” security arrangements made by Delhi Police after several rounds of discussions involving top officers in view of the protests. Police have said CrPc 144 and traffic restrictions will be in place until further orders.
“The police and paramilitary forces will guard the city’s borders, central Delhi and all places in between. We are prepared even to deal with Jat community members already living in Delhi,” explained Dependra Pathak, chief spokesperson of Delhi Police.
Massive traffic restrictions have been imposed in central Delhi, south Delhi and many other parts of the city. Tractors and trolleys will not be allowed on the roads.
Pathak said the restrictions and blockades will cause inconvenience to the public and advised students to plan their commute to exam centres accordingly.
More than 30,000 Delhi Police personnel will be out on the roads. The police have also sought 110 companies of paramilitary forces from outside Delhi to assist them.
The police, particularly in the western and south-western parts of Delhi with high Jat population, are visiting leaders in villages to request them to ensure law and order is maintained.
Senior officers said they are unwilling to take any chances after chaos in parts of Haryana during last year’s agitation. Police said they will use “appropriate force” to prevent a Haryana rerun in Delhi.
The traffic police will be out on city’s roads in full strength from Sunday evening. “Central Delhi will not be allowed to be used as transit for people going from north to south Delhi and viceversa,” said Garima Bhatnagar, joint CP (traffic).
For commuting from north to south, motorists have been advised to take either Ring RoadAshram Chowk-Rajghat or Lala Lajpat Rai Marg–Mathura Road– Ring Road.
For east to west Delhi, motorists can choose between Ring Road-Rani Jhansi Road-DBG Road and Vikas Marg-Rajghat Crossing-DBG Road.
Among the major routes totally closed for vehicular movement are Ring Road to San Martin Marg, Max Mueller Marg from Lodhi Road, Arch Bishop Macarious from Lodhi Road and Safdarjung Road from Aurobindo Chowk.
The Haryana government on Saturday called in the Army and took other preventive steps in view of the threat given by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) to gherao Parliament on March 20 and “choke” Delhi from all sides with their tractor-trailers.
Additional chief secretary (home) Ram Niwas told HT that 124 companies of paramilitary have been deployed in various districts. Sonepat deputy commisioner (DC) KM Pandurang said that four columns of the army had already reached the district while 21 more columns comprising 100 soldiers each will reach by Sunday. In Bhiwani, DC Anshaj Singh said 18 army columns have been called, while troops with similar strength have been called in Rohtak as well.
Apart from this, the , Jhajjar administration had directed all gram panchayats in the district to deploy youth to carry out ‘thikri pehra’ (night vigil) for maintenance of peace and law and order in their villages.
The spokesman said Section 144 had also been imposed in Sonepat district, prohibiting plying of tractor-trailers on main roads and carrying food items, and limiting their use to only for agricultural purposes. Ban had also been imposed on open sale of petrol, diesel and other inflammable materials. Directions have been issued to petrol pump owners maintain complete record of sale of petrol and diesel.