Delhi Police Overwhelmed by Larger-Than-Expected Protest Crowd at Jantar Mantar
On Monday, a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi drew an estimated 5,000 participants, significantly exceeding the venue's capacity of around 3,000 people. The Delhi Police, who had deployed personnel to manage the gathering, were caught off guard by the scale of the turnout.
Intelligence units had not accurately forecast the number of protesters, according to sources. The situation escalated into street violence, reminiscent of the January 26, 2021 incident when protesters breached security at the Red Fort. However, unlike that event, the police this time managed to prevent any breach of major landmarks.
Protesters from Delhi and other parts of the country had begun assembling from Sunday evening. By Monday, the crowd had swelled, leading to clashes with law enforcement. The police used water cannons and batons to disperse the crowd, and several arrests were made.
The incident highlights challenges in crowd estimation for protests at designated sites. Jantar Mantar, a common protest location, has a limited capacity, but organizers often draw larger numbers. Authorities are reviewing their preparedness for future gatherings.
