Delhi Police have intensified security preparations ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, with station house officers (SHOs) asked to track people with alleged criminal antecedents, monitor buses travelling towards New Delhi and engage educational institutions and paying guest (PG) accommodation owners to discourage students from joining the demonstration.
The police have not granted permission for the protest. CJP co-convenor and spokesperson Saurav Das formally notified Delhi Police on Wednesday of the planned demonstration, which seeks the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police subsequently denied permission for the October 10 protest.
Police focus on movement towards New Delhi
According to officials, SHOs have been specifically asked to monitor around 2,800 people identified through the Facial Recognition System (FRS) as having criminal antecedents, including their movements and activities.
“SHOs have been asked to identify and keep track of such people in their respective areas, particularly those who may have a history of serious offences. The idea is to know who is moving towards the protest site and from where,” a police officer said, requesting anonymity.
Police have also directed officers to monitor local bus operators and check bookings to establish who is hiring buses and where they are headed.
“If there is organised movement of people towards New Delhi, the local police should be aware of it and stop it,” the officer said.
The directions are aimed at establishing whether groups are being transported to Delhi, particularly towards the New Delhi district, for the October 10 protest.
Colleges and PG accommodation hubs under watch
Police officers have also been asked to contact heads of universities and colleges in their jurisdictions and urge them to ensure that students do not participate in the demonstration.
Officers have been directed to reach out to PG owners in major student accommodation hubs and ask them to advise students against attending the protest.
The measures come amid concerns within the police that protesters could attempt to reach central Delhi in large numbers.
Police have identified three broad routes through which demonstrators could potentially enter Delhi: the eastern and Shahdara borders with Uttar Pradesh, and routes from the southwest, particularly from Rajasthan.
Officers have therefore been instructed to maintain heightened surveillance along these routes. “Barricades will be installed at entry points,” the officer said.
No demonstrations to be allowed in New Delhi district
The police have also been instructed to ensure that protesters are not allowed to sit or stage demonstrations anywhere in the New Delhi district.
Security has already been tightened around Jantar Mantar and other parts of central Delhi. Officials said nearly 4,000 security personnel have been deployed across the New Delhi area, while at least 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been requisitioned since October 1.
“The leaders are putting on social media that if protesters are stopped anywhere, they should just sit where they are stopped. We have to ensure that doesn't happen,” a second officer said, also requesting anonymity.
Police have also discussed establishing temporary detention facilities at stadiums across the city in case large numbers of protesters arrive, refuse to disperse and insist on courting arrest.
The heightened preparations come as the CJP has called for a nationwide mobilisation against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Gyanesh Kumar. The party has said its October 10 demonstration will demand the CEC’s resignation.
Nearly 2,900 people flagged during July agitation
The police preparations also draw on their experience of the CJP-led agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak at and around Jantar Mantar in July.
At least 2,873 people with alleged criminal antecedents were identified among those who attended that agitation, according to the police. Of these, nearly 989 were allegedly linked to heinous offences.
Police claimed that 101 of those identified had been booked in murder cases. Of these, 42 were allegedly involved in two or more murder cases, while 12 had been booked in 10 or more murder cases.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das informed the police on Wednesday about the planned October 10 protest.
The organisation had earlier said the demonstration would be peaceful and called on citizens supporting free and fair elections to participate.
CJP says it will continue protest over SIR
The October 10 call was announced after the CJP’s October 2 protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, following which founder Abhijeet Dipke called for supporters from across the country to march to Delhi.
CJP leaders have since warned of a prolonged agitation over the electoral system and said the movement would continue even if Gyanesh Kumar resigned, arguing that broader electoral reforms were needed.
The group has also alleged that police authorities in other states are attempting to discourage its members from travelling to Delhi. Dipke said CJP volunteers had received notices from police in Maharashtra and alleged that the notices were intended to prevent them from joining the October 10 protest.
Das had also claimed earlier that CJP leaders could be arrested before the protest.
The Delhi Police’s preparations follow a similar security response to the CJP’s July agitation, when thousands of demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament demanding the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks.
Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse protesters after they attempted to breach multiple layers of barricading. Videos circulated on social media appeared to show some protesters being beaten, while Delhi Police maintained that the use of force became necessary after demonstrators turned violent.
With the October 10 protest now facing a police denial, security agencies are preparing for possible attempts by protesters to reach Jantar Mantar and other parts of central Delhi despite restrictions.