Gurgaon: In an effort to enhance operational readiness for major protests, crowd management, communal unrest, VIP security and other critical incidents, police have constituted five dedicated law-and-order companies, comprising more than 500 personnel across the city.Each company comprises 107 police personnel and will be headed by an assistant commissioner of police serving as the company commander. An inspector-rank officer will function as the assistant commander and oversee operational coordination.Four of the companies were created on a zonal basis, with one unit each assigned to the East, West, South and Manesar zones. The fifth company will function under the deputy commissioner of police (headquarters) and can be deployed anywhere in the district depending on operational requirements.“These units can be mobilised immediately whenever required for law-and-order duties, crowd management, VIP security arrangements, disaster response and other special situations,” police spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said.The move comes amid increasing demands on the police force during large gatherings and protests. Earlier this year, on April 9, more than 1,000 contractual workers gathered outside several factories in IMT Manesar despite prohibitory orders imposed a day earlier by the district administration to prevent a “planned” protest over minimum wage demands.The protest turned violent as some participants allegedly pelted stones, damaged public and private property, and vandalised police vehicles, including the official vehicle of the Manesar SHO, an emergency response vehicle and a police motorcycle. The motorcycle was also set ablaze. Glass panes at several industrial units were damaged, and attempts were made to set furniture on fire.Police carried out a lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Several workers and six to seven police personnel sustained minor injuries during the clashes. Two FIRs, including one under attempt-to-murder provisions, were registered at IMT Manesar police station, and around 70 people were arrested.Officials said the newly formed companies will operate in an organised manner and are expected to strengthen the force’s ability to maintain public order and respond effectively to similar situations in the future.Plans are underway to establish five additional companies in the coming months.
