Role Reversal at Jantar Mantar: Former Cops Prepare To Take To Streets, Seek to Protest Over Violent Clashes with CJP Protestors

In a rare role reversal at Capital’s iconic protest ground, retired Delhi Police personnel are preparing to assemble at Jantar Mantar following unprecedented violence during recent youth-led demonstrations that left more than 110 police personnel and dozens of protesters injured.

The planned demonstration by former law enforcement officers comes after days of high-voltage clashes near Parliament Street and Connaught Place involving members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), student groups protesting over the NEET examination controversy, and various political delegations.

Cops Turn Protesters After Brutal Clashes

The decision by former police personnel to organise a public demonstration marks an unusual shift in the dynamics at Jantar Mantar, traditionally the epicenter for civil agitations and political sit-ins in New Delhi. Former officers expressed deep concern over the physical attacks faced by on-duty personnel, including Inspectors and senior staff, who suffered injuries from flying stones, glass bottles, and sharp objects during recent 'Sansad Chalo' marches.

Official figures from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police indicate that around 118 security personnel and over 50 civilian protesters sustained injuries during the week-long unrest. Serving officers who underwent treatment at local hospitals reported that aggressive sub-groups within the crowd targeted police barricades, transforming peaceful demonstrations into chaotic clashes.

Cyber Scrutiny And Misinformation Campaign

As tensions flared on the ground, the Delhi Police Special Cell and Cyber Cell launched a multi-pronged investigation into online narratives surrounding the Jantar Mantar agitation. Law enforcement agencies flagged over 400 social media handles including several operating from abroad accused of orchestrating a coordinated misinformation campaign using deepfake videos and manipulated audio clips to escalate anger against security forces.

Using Facial Recognition System (FRS) tools and CCTV footage from Parliament Street and surrounding arterial roads, investigators also identified over 400 individuals with prior criminal records who were present in and around the protest site between 20 July and 24 July. First Information Reports (FIRs) charging unidentified miscreants with rioting, damaging public property, and obstructing public servants on duty have been registered at the Parliament Street and Connaught Place police stations.

Political Crossfire And High-Level Intervention

The escalating violence at Jantar Mantar triggered intense political maneuvering across party lines. Leaders from the Opposition, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav, were detained during solidarity marches toward Parliament and the Prime Minister's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.

Simultaneously, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh held high-level discussions with key figures, including activist Sonam Wangchuk and CJP representatives, to broker peace. Following assurances from the Union Government regarding student grievances, Wangchuk called off his indefinite hunger strike at a private medical facility in Gurugram.

With former police officers now gearing up to hold their ground at Jantar Mantar to demand stronger protection and legal safeguards for serving personnel on duty, Delhi Police authorities are reviewing crowd control protocols and considering temporary caps on gathering sizes to restore calm in the heart of the national capital.