Protests in and around Delhi a security challenge

Sit-ins and protests in and around the national capital are emerging as a big security challenge for the establishment. According to Delhi Police's 2022 report, cops handled 6,277 law and order situations relating to protests, demonstrations, meetings and processions, with latest curbs being enforced due to the ongoing farmers' protest around Delhi-NCR.

A former Delhi police commissioner told ET: "Crowd management has become complex these days mainly due to social media. Handling of large crowds requires deployment of adequate personnel and paperwork. A police officer must protect people's democratic rights and at the same time ensure that there is no damage to public property. Hence, preventive policing is important and is executed by monitoring social media and through coordination between different state police forces etc."

Suspension of mobile internet services due to such protests impacts economic activities and commuters. As soon as the recent farmers' protest started, mobile internet services were suspended in eight Haryana districts.


Of late, mass agitations have shot up as witnessed during anti-CAA Act protests, farmers' movement against three farm laws, students' protest against Agniveer scheme and the recent wrestlers' protest.

A former director general of Central Reserve Police Force said, "The police should evolve newer strategies to handle mass agitations so as to withhold citizen rights and ensure safety, law and order."

A 2022 study by Sardar Patel National Police Memorial on "managing peaceful mass agitations" suggested use of force only when police personnel are physically assaulted or properties damaged. A senior government official argued that social media has become a powerful tool for setting up a narrative and mass mobilisation.