Mumbai Police has deployed around 500 personnel at Azad Maidan ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s Tiranga rally and other demonstrations expected to draw a large evening crowd, while traffic movement in South Mumbai remains normal because the protests are confined to the designated maidan area.
The security deployment is intended to maintain law and order as multiple groups gather at the venue. The demonstrations include a protest seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a CJP demand for justice over the detention of Saurav Das and Aushtosh Ranka, and a demonstration related to the death of Sahil Wakode, an IIT student who died by suicide on campus after allegedly being caught using a mobile phone during an examination.
A police official said approximately 500 personnel had been positioned to manage the gathering and prevent any untoward incident. The official said the protests would be held inside Azad Maidan and that no traffic routes had been diverted.
The CJP has permission to hold its protest at the venue. Police arrangements are focused on managing the expected increase in the number of protesters, securing the site and ensuring that public movement in the surrounding areas is not disrupted.
“We have deployed around 500 police personnel to maintain the law and order situation. As the protests will be held inside the maidan, no traffic routes have been diverted, and traffic movement remains normal,” the police official said.
The police also said that no special route diversions had been announced for motorists as of now. Officials said the demonstrations’ location within the boundaries of Azad Maidan had allowed traffic to continue without changes in the surrounding road network.
The security measures come as authorities prepare for several gatherings at the same central Mumbai venue during the evening. Police said their priority was to allow the permitted demonstrations to proceed peacefully while maintaining law and order and protecting movement in the adjoining areas.
