Barricades in yellow were positioned along the thoroughfares, public address systems broadcast advisories against gatherings, and officers from Delhi Police alongside Central Armed Police Forces personnel were deployed at points throughout Connaught Place. That Friday, the Citizens for Justice and Peace's 'Lehra Do Tiranga' appeal drew crowds into the capital while a police and security presence that had already been conspicuous across the city absorbed a further wave of reinforcements.
Officers were stationed throughout Central Park and along its perimeter, with the venue identified as the planned centrepiece of the event drawing a heightened law enforcement presence. Posted at the park's entrance, a two-day closure notice advised the public that anyone entering the grounds during that period could face legal consequences.
Between 6,000 and 7,000 police personnel were positioned throughout New Delhi to maintain public order, while a police source noted that the capital held 200 Central Armed Police Forces companies at the time, roughly 50 of which had been deployed on Friday.
Loudspeaker announcements broadcast at intervals across the area notified those present that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita had placed prohibitory orders in effect, with gatherings of an unlawful nature explicitly covered by those restrictions. Flag-carrying crowds assembled near Central Park through the afternoon hours, despite the restrictions and a substantial officer deployment in the area.
A security review across multiple locations in the Connaught Place area was carried out by police commissioner Anurag Kumar, who was accompanied by a group of senior officers throughout the inspection.
Figures released by police put the number of people taken to designated holding centres at under 100, though separate accounts placed the total closer to 150. An officer indicated that those apprehended had been carrying placards or had assembled in protest.
Ahead of the gatherings, law enforcement put out a call urging both those planning to attend and members of the general public to stay away from any assemblies that ran counter to prohibitory orders, while also asking that normal commercial life and community calm be left undisturbed. Police indicated they were prepared to arrange an alternative venue where a designated group of participants would be permitted to hoist the national flag and perform the national anthem.
Rajeev Ranjan, who serves as additional commissioner of police and Delhi Police public relations officer, told reporters on Friday that no application for permission to hold the event at Connaught Place had been received by the department, nor had any list of attendees from the group been submitted. Ranjan added that the Flag Code sets out established guidelines for hoisting the national flag with due respect, and that those regulations have been formally published and remain open for anyone to consult. Ranjan further noted that flag-hoisting guidelines had been shared on social media platforms to keep residents informed of the proper precautions tied to displaying the Tricolour.
Posted across its social media channels, a set of guidelines from Delhi Police outlined the correct procedure for displaying the national flag, along with the conduct expected of those observing the occasion.
Officers from Delhi Police turned their attention to content spreading across social media platforms — including videos and posts — that claimed to depict force members assaulting demonstrators. Around 27 such posts were flagged by police, among them one asserting that officers had struck protesters on the head using lathis and a separate one contending that people had been handled roughly by personnel. In a statement addressing the circulating posts, police clarified that the footage dated from an earlier period and bore no relation to what had taken place on Friday, calling on the public to stop sharing content that could mislead.
