New Delhi, More than 4,000 police personnel, along with Central Armed Police Forces companies, will be deployed in view of the INDIA bloc rally at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, with the venue divided into 14 zones and over 200 CCTV cameras installed for surveillance, officials said.
Police personnel from different districts, along with companies of CF, would be deployed to manage the crowd and maintain law and order. Delhi Police has been tasked with coordinating their deployment across the city. Senior officers will keep a close watch on the arrangements.
The police have made elaborate security and traffic arrangements for the rally, which is expected to draw around 50,000 people, with deployment planned both along the march route from Minto Bridge to the venue and at the Ramlila Maidan, officials said. In a related development, the deployment of 270 companies of CF called in earlier this month in view of a series of protests has been extended for the third time, until November 16. Each of the 14 zones at the venue will be supervised by an officer of the assistant commissioner of police rank, while two zones will be monitored by an additional DCP-rank officer. Ramlila Maidan can accommodate around 45,000 to 50,000 people when empty, according to officials. However, with chairs, enclosures and designated passageways in place, police estimate a gathering of around 30,000 to 40,000 people.
An official said the deployment would cover the route leading to the venue and the rally ground itself. Police said entry would be allowed through designated gates, with security checks, including metal detector screening, for those attending the rally. Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, accompanied by senior officers including the special commissioner, joint commissioner and deputy commissioners of central and New Delhi districts, inspected security arrangements at Minto Road and Ramlila Maidan on Saturday.
