Delhi Police’s Facial Recognition System (FRS) has identified around 400 individuals with criminal records who were present in and around the Jantar Mantar protest site between July 20 and July 24, according to sources.
The individuals were detected through the FRS deployed across the area during the five-day period. Police are now scrutinising their movements and activities to determine whether they had any involvement in the violence and vandalism reported in the New Delhi district on July 20.
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According to sources, investigators are analysing CCTV footage, surveillance inputs and social media content to establish the presence of suspected criminal elements at the protest venue and link them to specific incidents of damage to public property.
Among those identified are individuals with criminal backgrounds, including Sahil, Manoj Kumar, Rubal and Sahil Saifi. Police are verifying their movements and examining whether they were part of organised groups present during the demonstrations.
The Facial Recognition System, which matches images captured by surveillance cameras with police databases, has been extensively used during large public gatherings and high-security events to identify wanted persons and habitual offenders. Officials said the technology played a key role in tracing people with prior criminal records who were present in and around the protest site.
The violence erupted on July 20 during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, when thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Demonstrators were demanding education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
Security forces responded with tear gas, lathi charges and anti-riot vehicles after protesters allegedly attempted to breach barricades in the high-security zone. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained during the operation, while protesters also alleged internet disruptions.
The investigation remains ongoing, with Delhi Police continuing to examine electronic evidence and surveillance data to determine the extent of the identified individuals’ involvement in the unrest, sources said.
