Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has issued a notice granting the Delhi Police complete authority to arrest anyone till October 18 under the draconian National Security Act.
The notification, which gives Commissioner of Police Balaji Srivastava the authority, goes into force on July 19.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 3, read with clause (e) of Section 2 of the National Security Act, 1980, the L-G is pleased to direct that during the period July 19 to October 18, the Delhi Police Commissioner may also exercise the powers of detaining authority under sub-section (2) of the Section 3 of the aforesaid Act,” the official communique read.
Some senior police officials have, however, informed that the decision is nothing but a routine order that is issued usually before key days such as Independence Day and Republic Day.
“Under the NSA, the police can arrest any individual if they find them suspicious or a threat to national security and law and order,” the New Indian Express quoted a police official as saying.
Interestingly, the order also comes at a time when hundreds of farmers are protesting inside Delhi and outside its borders against the Centre’s three agriculture laws. The ‘Kisan Sansad’ at Jantar Mantar will continue till the end of the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament on August 13.
After receiving information regarding a probable terrorist assault in the national capital ahead of the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence on August 15, intelligence services have placed Delhi on high alert.
According to intelligence, Pakistan-based terrorists have plotted a big attack on Delhi on August 5, the two-year anniversary of the repeal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
