Delhi Police Deploys 3,000 Personnel for 10,000 Protesters, Files 15 FIRs
New Delhi: In response to ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police has deployed approximately 3,000 personnel to manage a crowd of nearly 10,000 demonstrators, according to police sources. The police have registered 15 First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the agitation.
Police sources reported that around 130 police personnel have been injured, while approximately 65 students sustained injuries during the demonstrations. The police are using Facial Recognition System (FRS) cameras to identify individuals with prior criminal records among the protesters. According to police sources, more than 2,000 such persons have been identified so far. This technology has been used previously at major public events such as Republic Day, Independence Day, and religious festivals.
The protests, led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and supported by activist Sonam Wangchuk, demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving a written assurance from the Union government regarding reforms in the examination system. In a video message, he questioned why his commitment required a 'character certificate'.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has been diagnosed with typhoid, stated that the protests will continue uninterrupted until Pradhan steps down. He insisted that any negotiation must occur at a neutral venue. After a nearly two-hour meeting with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, CJP representatives said the government sought time until Saturday afternoon to consider their demand.
