At least 70 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), comprising around 7,000 personnel, who are currently deployed in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, are being mobilised for law-and-order duties in Delhi, ahead of the protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 10, according to two official communications issued on October 5 and 6.
A CRPF communication accessed by The Hindu asked the Chhattisgarh units to maintain full operational strength and carry the latest equipment, arms, and ammunition. The letter said that the deployment was being made on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
“All Companies shall be duly equipped with the latest Anti-Riot Equipment, operational-scale weapons and prescribed ammunition, as applicable. All personnel shall be properly briefed regarding the nature of duties, discipline and necessary security precautions to be observed during the subject deployment,” the communication said. Each company comprises around 100 personnel.
Unprecedented security
On the MHA’s directions, elaborate security arrangements are being made in and around Jantar Mantar ahead of the October 10 march to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
After the CJP issued a protest call on October 3, urging protesters to converge in Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his scheduled visits to Telangana, Meghalaya, and Mizoram on October 4 and 5. A proposed visit to Manipur on October 7 was also called off, and Mr. Shah has since stayed put in Delhi to monitor the situation, even as the Opposition INDIA bloc led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has staged two street-protests in the past three days.
The New Delhi district, where Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site is located, has seen unprecedented security deployment since October 2, when Left parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and civil society groups staged protests against the CEC. Jantar Mantar, which was also the site for the CJP’s massive student protest that forced the resignation of the Union Education Minister in July, has been blocked by the police since July 26, with no alternative venue provided for agitations. The Delhi Police has invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting processions, rallies, and dharnas in the area.
Deployment ‘in zero time’
At least 40 CRPF companies of are being de-inducted from West Bengal “in zero time” for further deployment in Delhi, while another 30 companies from the Chhattisgarh Sector have been asked to remain ready for deployment in the national capital. The deployments are in addition to the Delhi Police and other Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) units, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the specialised anti-riot unit of the CRPF that came under a cloud for its use of pellet guns against unarmed protestors on July 20. The CAPFs work under the command and control of the requisitioning authority during deployment, in this case, the Delhi Police.
An October 6 communication from the CRPF’s West Bengal Sector, referring to an order issued by the MHA on the same day, said: “40 CRPF coys… will be de-inducted from West Bengal in zero time for further deployment in Delhi as directed by higher ups.”
The communication asked the authorities concerned to immediately release the earmarked companies from their existing deployment locations and arrange transportation to their respective boarding stations.
According to the communication, the 40 companies are currently stationed across several districts of West Bengal, including Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Purba Medinipur, Hooghly, Howrah, and North 24 Parganas. A large number of the companies are deployed in Murshidabad and Purba Medinipur.
‘Most urgent’ transfer to Delhi
A separate communication, dated October 5, said 30 regular companies of the CRPF’s Chhattisgarh Sector were likely to be deployed shortly for law-and-order duties in New Delhi. Of these, 12 are to be drawn from Bijapur, seven each from Sukma and Konta, and two each from Jagdalpur and Dantewada.
The Range Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) concerned were directed to provide details of the earmarked companies and keep the personnel in a state of readiness. The communication said the likely date of departure by special train, as intimated to the force, was October 7. The communication described the matter as “MOST URGENT.”
Published – October 08, 2026 10:08 pm IST
