DELHI BRACES FOR MASSIVE OCTOBER 10 PROTEST AS 12,000 PARAMILITARY PERSONNEL ARE AIRLIFTED

October 8, 2026

The Centre is preparing an exceptionally large security deployment in Delhi ahead of the October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, with around 12,000 paramilitary personnel being airlifted from Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and Chhattisgarh as authorities anticipate a major mobilisation over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Security officials said the deployment is expected to be among the largest in the capital in recent years and could be broadly comparable with the arrangements made during the 2023 G20 summit. Around 50,000 security personnel, including Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, had been deployed across the capital during the G20 summit.

The additional forces include CRPF personnel, with some companies being requisitioned from Bengal, where they had remained after the state Assembly elections. Authorities are also tightening security at Delhi's borders and around important locations amid intelligence inputs that student groups, Opposition supporters and farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh could participate in the protest.

The Cockroach Janta Party has formally informed Delhi Police of its proposed October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, saying the protest would be led by young people from across the country over election-related issues and voter lists. The Parliament area, Election Commission office and Jantar Mantar have already been placed under heightened security with multiple layers of barricading.

The Union home ministry has also directed security officials to avoid the use of lethal weapons such as pellet guns for crowd control. Personnel have instead been instructed to rely on measures such as lathis, tear gas and water cannons if protesters have to be dispersed.

The heightened preparations follow intense demonstrations in Delhi over the past several days by Opposition parties demanding action against the Chief Election Commissioner. Delhi Police have additionally instructed station house officers to monitor buses entering the New Delhi district and have asked educational institutions and paying-guest accommodation providers to discourage students from joining the protests.

With thousands of additional personnel being brought into the capital and security tightened around key government and electoral institutions, Delhi is preparing for a major protest mobilisation on October 10.