NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday held an emergency meeting at his residence over the violence that rocked parts of the national capital during the farmers’ Republic Day parade.
According to sources, the Home Secretary, Director Intelligence Bureau and senior officers of Delhi Police were present at the meeting called to take stock of the security arrangements in Delhi.
More central troopers would be deployed in Delhi to meet any exigencies, sources said.
Sources said that apart from additional forces, stand by security personnel have been arranged to control any untoward incident.
The Home Ministry swung into action after a group of farmers swarmed into the historic Red Fort, while incidents of violence were reported from the ITO area.
Taking serious note of the chain of incidents, Shah called an emergency meeting where deliberations were underway to strengthen the security apparatus.
According to intelligence inputs, some ‘organised groups’ are behind the violence.
The officials are trying to zero in upon the individuals responsible for triggering the violence and provoking the farmers during the tractor parade, especially those behind hoisting a pennant at Red Fort.
Besides, the security arrangements in the border areas of Delhi are also being reviewed.
As the farmers’ protest turned violent, Internet services in some of the locations in the city were stopped following the government’s instruction.
The instruction came at the request of Delhi Police that looked helpless in controlling the aggressive farmers who unexpectedly rammed police barricades and moved towards Red Fort soon after the Republic Day parade concluded.
The telecom operators like Jio, Airtel and Idea alerted their customers through messages about the disrupted Internet services.
“As per the government instructions, Internet services have been stopped in your areas till further notice,” said a message received from Jio in a particular area where Internet services were barred.
The Home Ministry in an order also suspended Internet services at Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk and Nangloi, along with their adjoining areas, till 11.59 p.m. for maintaining ‘public safety’.
IANS