Jolted by the massive intelligence failure that allowed thousands of farmers to storm the national Capital, the Centre on Tuesday decided to deploy additional paramilitary troops in Delhi to restore peace and maintain law and order.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava and senior Intelligence Bureau officials. Additional paramilitary troops will be brought in for deployment in sensitive places in Delhi, a Home Ministry official said.
The way the farmers led their tractor rally in the national Capital and virtually seized the Red Fort has left the security experts stunned.
For better part of the day, the Centre seemed clueless. No Minister or official even came forward to issue a televised appeal to restrain the farmers. Only in the second half, the Home Ministry swung into action and Amit Shah held a series of meetings to find ways to defuse the situation.
Snapping internet connection at several flash points was one of the first measures announced by the Home Ministry. Beefing up security forces was the second such step. The exact number of additional troops was not known immediately, but officials suggested that it could be around 1,500 to 2,000 personnel (about 15 to 20 companies). Around 4,500 paramilitary personnel were already deployed for law and order duties before the Republic Day. Rapid Action Force personnel have also been repositioned in the national Capital and vigil has been intensified in view of the evolving situation.
Earlier in the day, the Home Ministry decided to temporarily suspend the internet in parts of Delhi like Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk and Nangloi and their adjoining areas for 12 hours from Tuesday noon.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act 1855 and in the interest of maintaining public safety and averting public emergency, it is necessary and expedient to order the temporary suspension of internet services in the areas in Delhi from 12:00 hours to 23:59 hours on January 26,” an order issued by the MHA said.
The Home Minister reviewed the situation after hundreds of protesting farmers on tractors barrelled through police barricades to enter central Delhi areas, including Red Fort and ITO. The Home Secretary and the Police Commissioner also apprised Shah about the steps being taken by the police to maintain peace, another official said.
Wednesday, 27 January 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
