Security forces heave sigh of relief

A young supporter of Anna Hazare waves the national flag near the India Gate monument in New Delhi

It was a daunting task for the hundreds of paramilitary and Delhi Police personnel guarding the Ramlila ground with many of them admitting that it was an “overwhelming” experience. With Anna Hazare ending his fast yesterday after 288 hours, most of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Many of the security personnel admitted they had never seen such large crowds and it was a tough challenge to manage them and keeping their cool despite a few untoward incidents including one where policemen were attacked by some drunkards.
“I’ve never seen so many people gathered at one place creating so much noise. It has been an overwhelming experience for me,” said a constable of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion from Punjab.
Agreed a Delhi Police constable: “It has definitely been a tough assignment with so much going on all around. We were controlling the crowds, traffic, looking after VIP movement, etc.”
“It was like a nightmare but we are very relieved now.”
The paramilitary troops were brought from various states ahead of August 15 (Independence Day) but stayed back due to Hazare’s agitation.
“We were supposed to leave after Independence Day but our posting was extended to guard the ground,” said a CRPF constable posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked about the incident when a group of drunken men attacked some of their colleagues, the policemen said though they were prepared for such incidents, it was the “orders from seniors” that held them back.
A young supporter of Anna Hazare waves the national flag near the India Gate monument in New Delhi.