Politics

Delhi Police Deploy 3,000 Officers and 150 Cameras for Ramlila Maidan Congress Rally

By Karn Pratap Singh

Delhi Police will deploy nearly 3,000 officers and 150 high‑definition, AI‑enabled CCTV cameras to monitor the Congress‑led bloc’s rally on November 1 at Ramlila Maidan. All roads leading to the venue will be heavily barricaded and manned to prevent crowds from moving toward Jantar Mantar and other restricted zones. A contingency plan has been prepared for the immediate evacuation of top politicians, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in case of an emergency or disruption. One gate of the 12‑acre ground is earmarked for VVIP entry and exit, while another gate will serve senior police and central agency officers. Three gates will remain open for protesters, with additional gates potentially opened if the crowd grows. All entrants will undergo thorough searches, including baggage scanning and metal detection, before crossing two layers of security cordons. The venue will be divided into eight regions and 14 zones, each overseen by a Deputy Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner of Police, assisted by at least 25 inspectors and lower‑ranked personnel. In addition to Delhi Police, about 10,000 armed paramilitary personnel will be deployed. Parking will be provided near Rajghat and Mata Sundari College, from which protesters will walk to the ground. The police intelligence unit estimates 40,000 to 50,000 attendees, though organisers claim up to one million. The plan also includes a temporary police control room to relay live video feeds and directions to security teams. The contingency plan follows the de‑notification of Jantar Mantar as a protest venue and the listing of three new sites for demonstrations. The rally is part of the opposition’s campaign against alleged voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.