Entry and exit gates at 57 Delhi Metro stations will remain closed from 9 p.m. on October 9 and throughout October 10 ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, while interchange facilities will continue at most affected stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said.
The restriction follows a request from the Delhi Police, which has cited security concerns and the possibility of large crowds moving towards sensitive locations in the New Delhi district. The restriction will remain in place until further notice, according to the DMRC communication reported by The Hindu.
Interchange facilities will remain available at the affected stations, except New Delhi Metro station. This means passengers may be able to change lines at several stations but will not be able to enter or exit through those stations during the restriction period. The communication did not specify when normal entry and exit operations would resume.
The Delhi Police request was made through a communication issued by the Joint Commissioner of Police, Transport Range, on October 8. It asked the DMRC to take appropriate measures at identified stations in view of proposed protests at Jantar Mantar and other locations in the New Delhi district. The police also requested directions for Metro officers and staff to implement the arrangements.
The protest has been called by the Cockroach Janata Party and student organisations, including the All India Students’ Association, over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Organisers are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in the revision exercise and changes to the process for appointing Election Commissioners. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls.
Delhi Police have denied permission for the proposed CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Nupur Prasad said on October 9 that the organisers had sought permission at short notice, while rules require applications to be made at least 10 days in advance. The organisers had submitted an intimation letter on October 7 seeking arrangements for law and order and traffic management.
Security preparations have also been expanded beyond the Metro network. According to official communications issued on October 5 and October 6, 70 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, comprising about 7,000 personnel and deployed in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, are being mobilised for law and order duties in Delhi ahead of the protest.
The police have also held meetings with student paying guest accommodation owners, market associations and Resident Welfare Associations as part of a local outreach campaign discouraging participation in the proposed demonstration between October 7 and October 10. The Metro restrictions are scheduled to continue on October 10 until the security situation returns to normal.
