Delhi Police Sets Up 20 Teams to Investigate CJP's Parliament March
The Delhi Police has intensified its investigation into the 'Sansad Chalo' march organised by the Centre for Justice and Peace (CJP), forming 20 specialised teams to probe various aspects of the protest that took place last week. Senior police officers stated that the march, which drew an estimated crowd of 40,000 to 50,000 people, was far more organised than initially perceived.
The investigation, based on 10 First Information Reports (FIRs), involves analysis of encrypted chats on the Bitchat app, locality- and college-based WhatsApp groups, social media posts, CCTV camera footage, mobile phone data, and facial recognition records. Each of the 20 teams has been assigned a specific focus, such as digital communication, call detail records, or identification through facial recognition systems.
According to police sources, investigators have recovered chats from several WhatsApp groups that allegedly contained detailed instructions for participants, including items to carry (such as pepper spray), procedures if detained, and contact numbers for designated legal teams kept on standby. Officers described these chats as evidence of a well-prepared protest strategy.
Two social media handles suspected of spreading misinformation related to the protest have been blocked. The police are also examining whether charges of culpable homicide apply after a 22-year-old woman was injured in a stampede-like situation that occurred during the march.
Police officials alleged that CJP functionaries proceeded with the march despite repeated assurances that dialogue with the government would be initiated. They added that protesters were aware of the potential for overcrowding and law and order problems.
According to officers, while the initial gathering at Jantar Mantar was estimated to be 70-80 per cent organic, subsequent mobilisation was driven largely through social media networks. A significant number of participants were Generation Z, social media influencers, and, in some cases, alleged paid influencers.
The investigation will also examine any instances where excessive force may have been used by police personnel during the protests. None of the FIRs currently name any individual accused, although the CJP has been named in the complaints.
In response, the CJP alleged that the police had removed security checkpoints where bag scanning and frisking were previously conducted, leaving volunteers to manage the crowd at Jantar Mantar. A senior police officer acknowledged that the crowd had become too large to frisk every person and that they appreciated the protesters managing this themselves.
