Drones for monitoring and a two-tier security circle

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained on Thursday night by the Enforcement Directorate. Delhi Police installed a two-tier security ring and utilised drones for monitoring at his home.

Twelve members of the Aam Aadmi Party, among them MLA Rakhi Birla, were temporarily arrested outside of Kejriwal’s Civil Lines residence when they attempted to create a disturbance and indulged in sloganeering, according to the police. They were released later that evening.

The police are bracing for massive demonstrations by AAP employees on Friday in many locations. Security around the ED offices on Akbar Road and APJ Abdul Kalam Road has been ramped up by the police. When Kejriwal appears in court on Friday afternoon, the police will also likely deploy multi-layered protection. A senior police officer said, “If protests start, ED may take a call on insisting on production via videoconferencing.”
On Friday, many sections of the city may be subject to prohibition orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.
Soon after ED detectives arrived at Kejriwal’s Flagstaff Road home with a search warrant, reserve troops and the Rapid Action Force were also stationed there, in addition to police officers from north Delhi. The route that leads to the chief minister’s official house in north Delhi was also blocked off with barricades.
Workers on the route began protesting as soon as word leaked out about the arrest. The police moved quickly to begin taking them away and holding them. They were assigned to various north Delhi police stations.
Authorities indicated that they have information that the Special Branch is closely monitoring conversations on protests and other related topics. A few top police officers discussed informally adopting several safety measures to ensure that no violent incidents are reported from anywhere in the city.
According to sources, authorities are keeping a watch on prominent AAP officials’ speeches in addition to the city police’s vigilant observation of activity in key places. District DCPs are expected to be vigilant. Foot patrols by police have started in a few high-risk neighbourhoods. In order to handle any possible interruptions brought on by the protesters, traffic police are also on high alert.
“We have verbal instructions from senior officers to be on the ground and ensure there are no traffic disruptions or law and order issues,” one officer said.
Picketing has increased at borders and on public routes in the meantime, and cars are being inspected to look for possible demonstrators.
“Our main focus is to ensure that no group disrupts the city or reaches sensitive zones in the New Delhi district,” a senior official said. As part of these initiatives, we have also erected more barriers on roads.”