Home Ministry extends deployment of 273 CAPF companies in Delhi till October 31 amid protest fears

The Union Home Ministry has granted a second extension for the deployment of 273 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies in New Delhi through October 31, citing potential "flash protests" by political and other organizations, official sources reported Friday.

These security companies were initially moved to the national capital earlier this month to handle demonstrations organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

Sources told PTI that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) instructed both the Delhi Police and the relevant CAPF units on October 22 to coordinate the ongoing assignment.


According to officials, the extension was sanctioned following a request from the Delhi Police, mirroring a previous extension granted in mid-October.

Delhi Police alerted the ministry to the likelihood of sudden protests by various political and community groups across sensitive areas in the city. Consequently, extending the forces' presence was deemed necessary to maintain law and order, a request the MHA subsequently approved.

The 273 companies stationed in Delhi alongside local law enforcement comprise 125 units from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)—including 20 all-women units—46 from the Border Security Force (BSF), 39 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 31 from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), 20 from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and 12 from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

While a standard CAPF company has an official strength of 100 personnel, its actual on-ground operational capacity typically ranges between 70 and 72 personnel.

The heightened security follows CJP demonstrations on October 9 demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a demand later echoed by opposition party protests.

Additionally, the CJP conducted a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' demonstration on October 16.