New Delhi: The Delhi Police has intensified its investigation into the violence that erupted during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests in the national capital by assigning the probe to two of its specialised units, the Special Cell and the Crime Branch. According to senior police officials, the move comes after multiple incidents of clashes between protesters and security personnel during demonstrations held in central Delhi over the past few days.
Officials said at least 129 police and security personnel have sustained injuries since the protest march began on July 20, including 11 officers who were injured on Wednesday alone. The protests, organised by the CJP, have witnessed repeated confrontations near key locations such as Parliament Street, Sansad Marg, Tolstoy Marg and Connaught Place.
Police said that 11 FIRs have been registered so far at five police stations in the New Delhi district. The latest FIR includes serious charges such as rioting, attempt to murder, robbery, and voluntarily causing hurt or grievous injury to deter public servants from discharging their duties. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with these cases.
According to officials, the Special Cell has been tasked with investigating one case registered at the Parliament Street Police Station to examine whether there was a larger conspiracy behind the violence. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch will investigate the remaining 10 cases and focus on identifying and apprehending those allegedly involved in attacks on police personnel and incidents of stone-pelting.
The Special Cell has already begun collecting extensive electronic evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events. Investigators are examining hundreds of videos circulating on social media, CCTV footage, recordings from body-worn cameras of security personnel, mobile phone dump data from the Jantar Mantar protest site and surrounding areas near Parliament, as well as exchanges on encrypted messaging applications.
A senior police officer said that investigators have already identified more than 400 videos related to the violence that took place over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The evidence is expected to help authorities identify those allegedly responsible for attacking police personnel and damaging public property.
Officials further stated that the Special Cell has also utilised the Face Recognition System (FRS) to identify individuals with previous criminal records who were allegedly present during the protests. According to police, 8 to 10 persons with criminal antecedents have been identified so far and will be issued notices directing them to join the investigation.
Police also reported that several valuables belonging to injured personnel went missing during the clashes. These include a wireless communication set, a mobile phone, a gold chain and a gold ring, which were allegedly stolen amid the chaos.
The latest violence was reported on Wednesday when at least three separate clashes broke out near Sansad Marg-Tolstoy Marg and the Connaught Place outer circle. An FIR registered at Connaught Place Police Station alleges that protesters obstructed public servants from performing their duties and intentionally assaulted police personnel, causing injuries.
Delhi Police has directed officers to remain deployed in large numbers at sensitive locations to prevent any further escalation of violence. The enhanced security arrangements come amid continuing protests in the capital, where demonstrators have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
The investigation by the Special Cell and the Crime Branch is expected to determine the circumstances leading to the violence, identify those allegedly involved, and establish whether the incidents were part of a coordinated plan. Authorities have maintained that the probe will rely on forensic and electronic evidence as they continue efforts to restore normalcy and ensure accountability for the clashes.
