HOW CAA STIR HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON COPS

Stretched to the limit! Non-stop duty across ranks, leaves cancelled, even non-field personnel tackling protests in city

- Ajay Kumar, Chayyanika Nigam and Chirag Gothi

DELHI, like many other parts of the country, has been rocked by a wave of protests and violence that started four days after Parliament cleared the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 11.

Buses have been burnt and private cars smashed. Cops have used batons, teargas and water cannons. Scores of people from both sides have been hurt. Dozens of Metro stations, and some schools, have had to temporarily shut.

The Delhi Police have been panned in some sections for their handling of the situation. What made matters worse was the December 19 shutdowns — from arterial roads to mobile Internet — that brought Delhi to a standstill.

But this fortnight of mayhem has also taken a heavy toll on the cops. It’s been a non-stop duty across ranks. All leaves remain cancelled. Personnel have been told to log out of social media. Six reserved companies, each comprising 80-150 cops, have been pressed into service.

Even some non-field personnel from the police lines have been roped in as the force has been stretched to the limit. The Delhi Police have 85,000 cops in police stations and police lines.

“After the Jamia violence, I have been working for more than 16-20 hours a day. The entire force is on its toes to avert untoward incidents,” said a constable posted in South Delhi.