NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has issued an open letter to citizens, emphasising that protecting their safety is its responsibility and that police personnel, despite wearing uniforms, are human beings with families and loved ones.“Dear citizen, Aapki awaaz aapka haq hai, aur aapki surakhsha hamara farz. Uniform ke peeche bhi ek insaan hai, jiska aapna Parivar hai, apne log hai. Farq sirf uniform ka hai, insaaniyat ka nahi,” the letter read.(Your voice is your right, and your safety is our duty. Behind the uniform is also a human being, who has a family and loved ones. The only difference is the uniform, not humanity).The open letter comes amid heightened tensions over protests in the national capital after the Delhi Police denied permission for the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) proposed demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 10. The police cited the late submission of its application, non-compliance with rules during a previous demonstration and concerns over public safety, law and order, and traffic management.Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said the New Delhi district police received an application from CJP co-convenor Saurabh Das on October 7, seeking permission to hold a protest demanding accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.“On October 7, 2026, an application from Saurabh Das, Co-Convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party, was received in the New Delhi District. As per the application, an intimation was given regarding a protest to be held at Jantar Mantar on October 10 concerning the accountability of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Upon processing this intimation, it was found that the notice was received at very short notice. Under current guidelines, an application to organise an event at Jantar Mantar must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date,” Prasad said.Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Monday issued an advisory for journalists covering protests, asking them to carry valid identity cards issued by their respective organisations or PIB/DIP accreditation cards and keep them visibly displayed to facilitate identification by law enforcement personnel.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
The advisory urged media personnel to ensure their presence and activities did not obstruct police operations or the movement of security personnel. Journalists were also advised to maintain a reasonable and safe distance while covering and recording proceedings during tense situations.They were further asked to position themselves in a manner that clearly distinguished them from protesters, particularly at crowded sites where police personnel are deployed. The police said the measures were intended to facilitate the identification of journalists and prevent interference with police operations.