Ahead of CJP’s October 10 Protest, Delhi Police Tracks 2,800 ‘Criminals’

Ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s proposed October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar.

The Delhi Police has identified around 2,800 people with criminal backgrounds who participated in the group’s July demonstration against the alleged NEET paper leak, officials said.

Police sources said efforts are underway to track those individuals and prevent people with serious criminal records from reaching Delhi for the planned protest. The CJP has announced its ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ demonstration to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

According to police officials, the Facial Recognition System (FRS) deployed during the July protests flagged 2,873 people with criminal records. Of these, 989 were accused in heinous offences, 101 had been named in murder cases and at least 42 were accused in two or more murder cases.

Police also found that at least 25 of those identified in the FRS data were accused of serious offences, including murder, attempt to murder, rape and child abuse, and were reportedly required to be in custody.

A senior police officer said local police stations would keep track of people with serious criminal antecedents, particularly those who had attended the previous protest. The stated objective, according to police, is to prevent any disruption of law and order around the protest site.

Students Asked to Stay Away

The police are also reaching out to students in the New Delhi area, where restrictions on public gatherings are currently in force.

Officials said meetings with Residents’ Welfare Associations in areas with large student populations are being used to inform paying guest accommodation owners about the restrictions. PG owners have been asked to make students aware that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) is in force in the New Delhi district.

Police officials said any unauthorised assembly in the restricted area could invite action.

Delhi Borders Under Watch

The police have also increased surveillance along Delhi’s borders ahead of the proposed protest. Officials said large groups entering the city would be monitored, with particular attention being paid to the Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan borders.

The UP border connects with parts of East Delhi and Shahdara, while the Haryana and Rajasthan borders connect with Dwarka and Southwest Delhi respectively.

Barricades and checking points are expected to be placed along routes leading towards central Delhi to monitor large movements of people, police officials said.

Meanwhile, CJP co-convener Saurab Das visited the Parliament Street police station and submitted a letter asserting the group’s right to protest at the designated Jantar Mantar site.

Later, Das and All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora addressed a press conference at the Press Club of India and called on citizens to join the October 10 demonstration.

Das said the group had not sought permission from the Delhi Police but had informed the authorities about its plan to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.