Consider the following statements in the light of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 : 1. Any police officer of any rank may command any unlawful assembly that is likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace to disperse. 2. If an unlawful assembly despite being commanded to disperse, cannot otherwise be dispersed, any police officer may cause it to be dispersed by the armed forces. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Both statements are incorrect according to the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Under Section 148(1) of the BNSS, an unlawful assembly (or an assembly of five or more persons likely to disturb public peace) can be commanded to disperse by an Executive Magistrate, an officer in charge of a police station, or, in their absence, a police officer not below the rank of Sub-Inspector. The law does not empower a police officer of "any rank" to issue such a command.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: According to Section 149(1), if an assembly cannot be otherwise dispersed, the District Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate authorised by him, who is present, may cause it to be dispersed by the armed forces. A police officer lacks the legal authority to requisition the armed forces for dispersal.