The Delhi Police has identified 2,873 individuals with criminal backgrounds after analysing CCTV footage from the July 20 and July 22 protests at Jantar Mantar, where supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) clashed with security personnel during demonstrations over the NEET paper leak issue, according to sources.
Sources said 989 of those identified have serious criminal records, including cases related to murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, offences under the Arms Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Investigation based on CCTV footage
The investigation is based on hundreds of gigabytes of CCTV footage collected from multiple locations around Jantar Mantar, Sansad Marg and adjoining areas in central Delhi.
According to sources, the footage captures protesters allegedly breaching police barricades, attacking police personnel, pelting stones, vandalising public and private property, damaging vehicles and violating prohibitory orders during the demonstrations held on July 20 and July 22.
Facial recognition technology was used to match individuals captured on camera with existing police records. Sources said many of those identified were already listed as habitual offenders, with several having multiple criminal cases registered against them.
Break-up of criminal cases
According to data shared by sources, the identified individuals include:
101 accused in murder cases
62 accused in attempt to murder cases
284 accused in robbery cases
61 accused in rape cases
25 accused in sexual assault cases
6 accused under the POCSO Act
229 accused under the Arms Act
19 accused in kidnapping cases
Sources further claimed that among the 101 accused in murder cases, 42 have two or more murder cases registered against them, while 12 have 10 or more criminal cases. Of the 61 individuals accused in rape cases, eight allegedly have multiple cases registered against them.
Violence captured on camera
According to sources, CCTV footage shows protesters breaking through barricades, attacking police personnel, throwing stones, using pepper spray, vandalising vehicles, damaging public property and shops, and attempting to overturn a police vehicle while an officer was inside.
Footage from Sansad Marg allegedly captured protesters pelting stones at security personnel, while another video from Tolstoy Marg purportedly showed a vehicle being set on fire and bus tyres being punctured.
Sources also claimed several videos show direct assaults on police personnel. One woman police officer was seen being evacuated after sustaining injuries, while another clip allegedly shows a police officer being surrounded and assaulted by protesters at Sansad Marg.
Delhi Police has earlier stated that around 200 police personnel were injured during the clashes.
Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from July 22, which allegedly shows attacks on police officers Nandkishore and Vivek Bhagat.
Objectionable remarks under scrutiny
Sources said investigators have also preserved video clips containing alleged derogatory and objectionable remarks made by some protesters.
These reportedly include comments directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Parliament and Delhi Police. The footage is being analysed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The CJP had launched its agitation demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak issue. The party called off the protest after Pradhan resigned from office, describing the development as the fulfilment of its principal demand.
Following the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march and subsequent clashes, multiple FIRs were registered against protesters across the country. The CJP has maintained that the Centre agreed to withdraw the FIRs, while investigations into the violence at Jantar Mantar continue.
