📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Ravan Khosa
Derivative work: Aristeas
Politics
Government orders protesters who climb water tanks to reimburse police salaries
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 23 Aug 2026, 03:17 PM
👁 22
The central government announced that individuals scaling water tanks and towers during protests will be liable for the cost of police salaries incurred during the operations.
New Delhi – The government issued a directive that anyone who climbs water storage tanks or towers as part of a protest will have to bear the expense of the police personnel deployed to manage the situation. The order, released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, states that the cost of police salaries will be recovered from the offenders through legal proceedings.
According to the circular, the amount will be calculated based on the number of officers assigned and the duration of their deployment. The authorities intend to use existing revenue‑recovery mechanisms, such as fines and court‑ordered compensation, to collect the sums.
Officials said the move aims to deter dangerous protest tactics that put both the demonstrators and the public at risk. By making the financial burden fall on the participants, the government hopes to discourage future incidents of tank climbing, which have previously required significant police mobilisation.
The policy does not affect routine law‑and‑order duties; it specifically targets actions that involve unauthorized access to public infrastructure. Legal experts note that the enforcement will depend on the ability to identify and prosecute the individuals involved.
The announcement comes amid a series of public demonstrations across the country, prompting authorities to seek stronger deterrents against disruptive protest methods.
According to the circular, the amount will be calculated based on the number of officers assigned and the duration of their deployment. The authorities intend to use existing revenue‑recovery mechanisms, such as fines and court‑ordered compensation, to collect the sums.
Officials said the move aims to deter dangerous protest tactics that put both the demonstrators and the public at risk. By making the financial burden fall on the participants, the government hopes to discourage future incidents of tank climbing, which have previously required significant police mobilisation.
The policy does not affect routine law‑and‑order duties; it specifically targets actions that involve unauthorized access to public infrastructure. Legal experts note that the enforcement will depend on the ability to identify and prosecute the individuals involved.
The announcement comes amid a series of public demonstrations across the country, prompting authorities to seek stronger deterrents against disruptive protest methods.