Agencies | New Delhi:
Intelligence agencies have warned that Friday’s “Lehra Do Tiranga” programme at Central Park in Connaught Place could extend beyond the planned flag-hoisting ceremony, with participants potentially staging an indefinite sit-in demanding the release of jailed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, according to intelligence sources.
The assessment reportedly warns that participants may refuse to leave the venue after the programme, scheduled for 5 pm, concludes. Sources cited an earlier protest on June 20, when permission was reportedly granted only until 5 pm, but the demonstration continued as a sit-in for more than a month.
Although the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced the closure of Central Park to the public, a gathering is still expected, the sources said.
According to the assessment, participants may not converge directly on Central Park but could assemble in smaller groups at different locations, potentially leading to simultaneous gatherings across the Central and New Delhi districts. Social media mobilisation, livestreaming and last-minute changes in gathering points or routes could complicate crowd management and traffic regulation, particularly during evening peak hours.
The agencies have also flagged the possibility that, if restrictions are enforced at Central Park, some groups could attempt to march towards sensitive and prominent locations, including Parliament House, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, political party offices and the residences of senior public representatives. Security arrangements around these locations have reportedly been identified as a priority.
The assessment further cautions that overcrowding, rumours or provocation could trigger pushing, scuffles or damage to public property in and around Connaught Place. Sources said there were also concerns that anti-social elements could exploit the gathering to engage in unlawful activities.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced the programme on October 14 under the message, “Waving a Tiranga is Not a Crime”. The gathering is linked to demands for the release of party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were arrested following an earlier protest. The CJP had not responded to the concerns cited in the assessment.
The agencies’ concerns are reportedly based on previous demonstrations. During a CJP protest on October 10, stone-pelting and an alleged attack on police personnel near Akashvani Bhawan left two policemen injured, according to the sources. Confrontations were also reported on October 11.
The sources also referred to a July 20 demonstration during which organisers and participants allegedly violated prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the New Delhi district. Participants reportedly attempted to move beyond the designated protest area despite restrictions on unauthorised processions and assemblies.
Intelligence agencies have further noted that turnout at previous protests allegedly exceeded the numbers indicated by organisers, with some participants reportedly breaking through police barricades. A similar surge is feared on Friday, with supporters from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the Delhi-NCR region, as well as student and youth groups, potentially joining the gathering.
As part of the proposed security response, public social media platforms are to be monitored for mobilisation calls, gathering points and last-minute changes. Preventive arrangements have also been proposed at railway stations, Metro stations and bus terminals, with adequate personnel and crowd-control equipment kept ready.
Security around vital installations and VIP areas in the Central and New Delhi districts is also expected to be strengthened, with police deployment continuing until the crowd has fully dispersed, the sources said.
