Two specialized investigation units of the Delhi Police – Special Cell and Crime Branch – will investigate cases filed in connection with alleged violence against security personnel during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in central Delhi, two senior police officers aware of the developments said on Thursday.
Officers said at least 129 people had been injured since the march began on July 20; At least 11 police officers were injured on Wednesday alone.
A total of 11 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered till Wednesday at five police stations in New Delhi district. The latest FIR was lodged on Wednesday on charges of rioting, attempted murder, robbery and voluntarily causing hurt or grievous injury to deter public servants from discharging their duties. Officers said no arrests were made in any of these cases.
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Officers also said a walkie-talkie, a gold chain, a gold ring and a mobile phone were stolen from the injured officers.
The Special Cell took up one case registered at Parliament Street Police Station to investigate the “larger conspiracy” angle of the entire protests and multiple rounds of violence; The Crime Branch will take over the remaining ten cases to identify and arrest those involved in the clashes and stone-pelting.
HT reviewed the official order issued in this regard to the Crime Branch on Thursday. Senior city police officers also instructed staff to remain spread out in large groups.
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One of the above-mentioned officers said that the special cell team has started collecting electronic evidence in the form of videos circulating on social media, chat exchanges through encrypted messaging apps, data dump of active mobile phones at the Jantar Mantar sit-in site and roads adjacent to Parliament, and videos recorded on CCTV cameras and cameras worn by security personnel. “We found more than 400 videos related to violence on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” the officer said.
The special cell also collected images of people with criminal records through the Facial Recognition System (FRS). “We have identified between 8 to 10 criminals… notices will be sent to them asking them to join the investigation,” the officer said.
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At least three rounds of violence broke out on Wednesday near Sansad Marg-Tolstoy Marg and Connaught Place outer circle, leaving 11 police officers injured. An FIR in this regard, seen by HT, was registered at Connaught Place police station. Follow live updates here
“…the protesters and rioters forcibly obstructed public servants in the performance of their public duties and inflicted physical injuries on police personnel with the intention of killing them…” the FIR said.
