The Delhi Police have identified 2,873 individuals with criminal backgrounds after analysing hundreds of gigabytes of CCTV footage recorded during the violent protests at Jantar Mantar last week, where demonstrators led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks, as reported in NDTV.
According to police sources, investigators have been examining extensive CCTV footage captured during the clashes on July 20 and July 22 at the high-security protest site in central Delhi. More than 100 CCTV video clips reportedly captured protesters breaching security barricades, attacking police personnel, pelting stones, damaging public property and engaging in acts of vandalism.
Using facial recognition technology, the Delhi Police identified 2,873 individuals whose faces matched existing criminal records.
Of these, 989 individuals reportedly have serious criminal histories involving offences such as murder, attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery, offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, sexual assault and violations of the Arms Act. Police sources said many of those identified were habitual offenders, with several having multiple criminal cases registered against them.
According to data shared by police sources, the identified individuals include:
- 101 accused in murder cases
- 62 accused in attempted murder cases
- 284 accused in robbery cases
- 61 accused in rape cases
- 6 accused under the POCSO Act
- 25 accused in sexual assault cases
- 229 accused under the Arms Act
- 19 accused in kidnapping cases
Among those identified, 42 of the 101 murder accused reportedly have two or more murder cases registered against them, while 12 have ten or more criminal cases to their names. Similarly, eight of the 61 rape accused have multiple rape cases registered against them.
CCTV Footage Captures Violent Clashes
Police sources said CCTV cameras installed at various locations documented multiple instances of violence during the protests.
The footage allegedly shows protesters attacking police and security personnel, breaking through barricades, pelting stones, using pepper spray, vandalising public and private vehicles, assaulting police personnel inside their vehicles, damaging public property and shops along the protest route, and violating prohibitory orders on large gatherings.
Several clips reportedly show protesters breaking through police barricades and advancing toward security personnel on Sansad Marg on July 20 while simultaneously engaging in stone-pelting at multiple locations.
Police sources further claimed that near Jantar Mantar, protesters threw stones at police personnel, vandalised vehicles and attempted to overturn a police vehicle despite a policeman being inside it.
At Tolstoy Marg, CCTV footage allegedly captured a vehicle being set on fire and the tyres of a bus being punctured.
Police Personnel Among Those Injured
According to police sources, several CCTV recordings show direct attacks on police personnel.
One video reportedly shows an injured woman police officer being evacuated by her colleagues, while another from Sansad Marg allegedly captures protesters surrounding and assaulting a policeman.
Police also said several clips show injured officers with blood visible on their uniforms. According to the Delhi Police, around 200 police personnel sustained injuries during the clashes.
Footage recorded on July 22 also allegedly captured attacks on police officers Nandkishore and Vivek Bhagat.
Objectionable Remarks Also Under Examination
Police sources said investigators have preserved and are analysing video recordings containing derogatory remarks allegedly made by some protesters during the demonstrations.
According to the sources, these include a woman making derogatory and objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Connaught Place, a man making inflammatory comments about Parliament at Sansad Marg, and another woman allegedly using abusive language against police personnel.
Protests Called Off After Minister’s Resignation
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) called off its agitation on Saturday following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whose resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak had been the group’s principal demand.
Following the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march at Jantar Mantar, multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against protesters across the country.
The CJP has claimed that the government agreed to withdraw those FIRs.
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