New Delhi: Delhi Police on Monday detained more than 70 people and launched a multi-pronged investigation into the clashes that broke out during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Sansad" protest, saying it is also probing whether there was a possible "conspiracy" behind the unrest.
According to police, at least 50 police personnel were injured during the clashes after CJP supporters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament. Protesters, however, alleged that police used force, including a lathi charge, against demonstrators after refusing permission for the march.
Police said multiple FIRs are being registered based on complaints received from different locations. Officials said CCTV footage, mobile phone videos and other digital evidence are being examined to identify those involved in the clashes.
According to Delhi Police, separate FIRs are being registered over incidents reported on Parliament Street and nearby areas. Police claimed some protesters damaged public property, attacked security personnel and participated in an unauthorised march towards Parliament.
The clashes erupted when supporters of the CJP, which has been staging a protest at Jantar Mantar since June 20 over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, attempted to march towards Parliament. Police had earlier said the group had neither applied for nor received permission for the march.
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Police alleged that protesters breached barricades, prompting personnel to intervene to stop them from advancing towards Parliament. Protesters, on the other hand, accused police of using force to disperse the gathering.
Later in the day, Delhi Police appealed to protesters to exercise restraint and continue their demonstrations peacefully.
Additional Commissioner of Police Rajiv Ranjan urged protesters to cooperate with police in maintaining law and order, refrain from unlawful activities and follow the directions of personnel deployed at the site.
New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma had stated on Sunday that the CJP had not been granted permission to march towards Parliament.
As part of the investigation, police said they are verifying the identities, affiliations and roles of those detained. According to police sources, many of those taken into custody were not students, despite the protest being projected as a movement against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. This claim has not been independently verified.
Investigators are also examining whether the clashes were pre-planned or instigated by organised groups. Police said digital evidence is being analysed to determine whether there was any coordinated effort behind the incident.
Another key focus of the investigation is the role of social media. According to police sources, several accounts allegedly circulated misleading and inflammatory content before and during the protest.
Police further claimed that multiple Pakistan-based social media handles amplified unverified claims about the clashes. One widely circulated post falsely alleged that seven protesters had been killed, 391 injured and 250 arrested. Police described the claims as baseless and said they appeared intended to create panic and fuel unrest.
Delhi Police said it is working with cyber experts to trace the origin of such posts and determine whether there was any coordinated online misinformation campaign linked to the protest.
According to police sources, if the investigation establishes the involvement of any political organisation or individual in planning, instigating or financing the clashes, appropriate legal action will be taken irrespective of political affiliation.
Ahead of the proposed march, entry and exit gates at several Delhi Metro stations, including Janpath, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Teerth, were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure after thousands of CJP supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar.
With IANS inputs