Centre keeps 273 CAPF companies in Delhi amid fears of fresh protests

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has extended the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in Delhi until October 31 amid concerns over possible "flash protests" by political and other groups, official sources said on Friday.

This is the second extension of the deployment, which was initially put in place following protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in the national capital earlier this month.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) instructed the Delhi Police and the respective CAPFs on October 22 to coordinate the deployment, the sources told PTI. The extension was approved following a request from the Delhi Police, which had secured a similar extension in mid-October, they said.

According to officials, the Delhi Police informed the ministry that political and other organisations could stage flash protests at various "sensitive" locations across the city. Continuing the deployment was considered necessary to maintain law and order, the officials said.

The 273 companies will remain deployed alongside the Delhi Police. The CRPF accounts for the largest share, with 125 companies, including 20 women personnel units. The deployment also includes 20 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 46 of the Border Security Force (BSF), 39 of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 31 of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 12 of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

Although a CAPF company has a sanctioned strength of 100 personnel, its effective operational manpower is around 70-72 personnel.

Parts of Delhi witnessed protests organised by the CJP on October 9, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties subsequently held protests with the same demand.

The CJP also organised a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration on October 16.

The latest extension comes amid concerns among authorities about further demonstrations at sensitive locations in the capital.