Delhi Police Drop Name Tags During Jantar Mantar Protests Over Social Media Targeting

Delhi Police personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did not wear name tags to prevent social media targeting, officials said.

The measure followed a review of the July 20 Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) march, during which police personnel involved in crowd control and their families were reportedly identified and targeted on social media. Officials said officers were subsequently assured that personnel would not face action for removing name tags while performing their duties lawfully.

What Happened at Jantar Mantar

On the first day of protests against Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, several protesters photographed and filmed police personnel and questioned the absence of name tags. Some officers reportedly said their tags had fallen off during the commotion, while others claimed they had forgotten to attach them or had deliberately removed them.

The decision was linked to concerns raised during review meetings after the July protests, according to police officials. One officer said some senior personnel reported that their families had been targeted through social media, memes and personal networks after officers were identified for their role in crowd management.

Why Police Are Avoiding Identification

While most IPS officers reportedly retained their tags at Jantar Mantar, many junior personnel were allowed to work without them. Police officials also said they had identified people posing as media personnel, alleging that some influencers were recording officers, conducting live sessions and creating memes targeting them.

The absence of name tags has drawn criticism, particularly because Delhi Police and central armed police forces faced allegations of excessive force during the July protests. Several personnel were caught on camera slapping, assaulting or deliberately tripping protesters, while police maintained that force was used after demonstrators turned violent.

A Practice Used in Conflict Zones

Officials said security forces have previously followed no-name-tag practices in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, while photographs of special forces personnel involved in anti-insurgency operations are often published with their faces blurred. Experts reportedly said there are no written rules specifically mandating whether personnel must wear or remove name tags, though avoiding identification has long been an operational practice in conflict zones.

The July protests had also seen people in civilian clothes claiming to be police caught attacking demonstrators, while influencers identified some of them as individuals who were not part of Delhi Police.