The Delhi Police Crime Branch has registered a fresh FIR to investigate the alleged role of 2,873 people with criminal records who were identified during the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, following the Supreme Court’s September 1 order allowing a separate case against them.
The investigation will establish whether the identified individuals were present at the protest site, examine their criminal antecedents and determine whether they were associated with student outfits involved in the agitation, officials said. Investigators will also examine whether any of them led or instigated the mob during clashes that broke out as the march moved from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament.
The Supreme Court had quashed FIRs registered against protesters who participated in the demonstrations but permitted the Centre and Delhi Police to register a fresh FIR concerning the 2,873 people with criminal records allegedly present at the protest site. The new case therefore separates the inquiry into the wider protest from the investigation of those specifically identified through their alleged criminal backgrounds.
The July 20 march witnessed clashes at several locations, during which several protesters were injured. Delhi Police had said that approximately 200 police personnel, including senior officers, were also injured. Investigations into cases linked to the violence had earlier been transferred to the Crime Branch and Special Cell.
Police investigators have examined CCTV and drone footage, body-camera recordings, mobile phone data and other digital evidence to establish the role of those involved. The Indian Express reported that the facial-recognition system flagged 2,873 people with criminal records during the protests. Of these, 989 were accused in heinous cases, 101 were named in murder cases and at least 42 were allegedly involved in two or more murders.
The new investigation comes as the police prepare for an October 10 march called by the Cockroach Janta Party. The party has announced a protest, described as ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Permission for the protest had not been granted at the time of the report.
According to a Delhi Police officer quoted on condition of anonymity, local police stations will track people with serious criminal antecedents who were identified through the facial-recognition system during the July protest, particularly those who may be travelling to Delhi for the October demonstration. The officer said the purpose was to prevent disruption of law and order around the protest site.
The Indian Express also reported that at least 25 of those identified in the July exercise, including people accused of murder, attempted murder, rape and child abuse, were supposed to be in jail. The Crime Branch’s investigation will now determine whether the identified people were actually part of the July 20 crowd and whether any individual played a role in the violence. Police preparations for the October 10 protest will proceed alongside that inquiry.
