Two days before October 10 Jantar Mantar protest, Delhi Police Crime Branch registers fresh FIR to probe July 20 violence

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The ‘Chalo Sansad’ march is under scrutiny over allegations of violence.

The Delhi police’s Crime Branch has registered a fresh FIR to examine the alleged presence and role of 2,873 people with criminal records at the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march held on July 20 and find out whether the violence was premeditated, sources said.

The protest march was called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister over the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak. Mr. Pradhan resigned on July 25, and the month-long CJP protest was called off.

According to the Delhi police, more than 200 police personnel allegedly sustained injuries during the march while over 65 protesters were also injured. The police had also said more than 15 police vehicles were damaged during the clashes.

The police claimed that they had identified more than 2,800 people with criminal records who were allegedly involved in the violence and stone-pelting during the July 20 protest.

The Supreme Court on September 1 had ordered quashing of criminal cases against protesters involved in nationwide protests linked to the CJP. The court, however, allowed the police to file a “fresh and specific” FIR against 2,873 individuals with criminal antecedents, who were spotted by facial recognition technology at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central Delhi.

Investigators will now verify whether those with criminal antecedents were among the protesters. Investigators will also reconstruct the events to establish whether the violence was planned or individuals with criminal intent joined the march and became involved in the clashes.

The probe will cover alleged attacks on police personnel, vandalism, and damage to government and public property, including police vehicles.

It will also examine whether those identified had links to student organisations and other groups involved in the agitation.

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