Delhi Police Reinforces Barricades, Deploys Extra Forces Ahead of Weekend Protests Over NEET Leak

Security arrangements have been further intensified across the national capital ahead of the weekend, with Delhi Police installing additional layers of barricades at key locations and reinforcing them with heavy-duty chains to prevent any attempts to breach security cordons, officials said on Saturday.

The move follows ongoing protests in Delhi by a political group demanding reforms in the examination system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak. Authorities expect a larger turnout of protesters over the weekend.

According to police sources, multiple rows of iron barricades have been placed on sensitive stretches in the New Delhi district, particularly in and around the Jantar Mantar protest site and other strategic locations.

“Extra layers of barricading have been put in place at the vulnerable points, which have been chained together and welded so that they cannot be dismantled or shifted easily. Additional force will also be deployed to maintain law and order,” a police officer said.

Apart from physical barricading, surveillance and security measures have also been enhanced across the city. Police have intensified vigil, with heavy deployment planned in the New Delhi, Central and North Delhi districts, where large gatherings or attempts to march towards restricted areas are anticipated, the sources said.

Senior officers have directed all district police units to remain on high alert and ensure adequate deployment at vulnerable locations. They have also been asked to keep updated lists of individuals with criminal backgrounds who could potentially exploit the protest and trigger law and order problems.

Facial recognition systems installed around the protest venue have already identified more than 2,500 people with criminal backgrounds entering the area over the past few days, a police source claimed. The system is being used to alert field units whenever such individuals are detected so that they can be discreetly monitored and, where required, subjected to verification.

Police said anti-sabotage checks, intensified vehicle inspections and enhanced patrolling are also being carried out at sensitive locations as part of the security plan.

The authorities have maintained that the elaborate arrangements are aimed at ensuring peaceful protests while preventing any untoward incident or breach of security during the expected rush over the weekend.