New Delhi, October 29 To prevent a repetition of last time’s violence, the Delhi Police has tightened up security in the Capital for the three-day traders’ strike which starts tomorrow. Paramillitary forces have been posted in the city tonight following instructions from Union Home Secretary V K Duggal.

Personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been posted along with a heavy posse of Delhi Police and Delhi Armed Police in sensitive locations.

The Home Ministry, said the sources, has been fearing a repeat of the September 20 violence, when the Delhi Police was caught napping. Outnumbered by rioters, the police had opened firing in Seelampur. Three persons, one a 7-yr-old boy, had died and over 100 people were injured. Paramilitary forces had been called in after eight hours of riot. This time, Duggal asked Police Commissioner K K Paul to post forces in advance.

Paul has furnished the Home Ministry with a “contingency plan” along with the list of the probable trouble spots. Sources say Paul told Duggal that there could be tension. Political support to the bandh — from both BJP and Congress — makes things volatile.

DCP North-East, Devesh Shrivastava, told Newsline that the paramilitary forces have been posted in the district. “We have got adequate riot-control equipment and set up pickets in vulnerable areas, though traders have assured us that protests will be peaceful.”

A DPCC executive meeting, meanwhile, was held today, which passed a resolution to bring Delhi Laws (Special Provisions Act 2006), regarding one year moratorium on sealings, under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.

Today’s agenda
* Three-day bandh called by Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) begins. Traders want a stop to sealings from November 1 and regularising shops that existed before December 31, 2005. Even chemists to close shop. Both BJP and Congress supporting bandh.
* CAIT says bandh will be peaceful. “Violence caused last time was due to outside elements... we have ensured that no such thing happens this time,” said Ramesh Khanna, general secretary, CAIT.
* All government schools to remain open, Delhi government said. No orders given regarding closure to private schools
* As per a GoM decision yesterday, the Union Urban Development Ministry and MCD will approach SC to seek relief for the 44,000 traders who have filed affidavits and face sealing from November 1. SC had ordered them to shut shop by October 31, failing which their shops were to be sealed. The MCD has told the SC monitoring committee that sealing is not possible from Nov 1 in view of possible violence.