A video said to be from the 19th has resurfaced on social media, raising questions that have been raised in recent days about the warning made by senior Delhi Police officers to event organisers at Jantar Mantar about the growing size of the gathering and the risk of anti-social or criminal participants taking advantage of the situation.
According to claims accompanying the video, the New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and the Joint Commissioner of Police (Joint CP) visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar and spoke directly with Saurav Das and other organisers.
The officers warned the organisers that the crowd had grown significantly and that persons with criminal or anti-social intentions could take advantage of the gathering.
The footage has been described online as a significant development because it is said to indicate that there was a concern in the organisation of crowd management and the potential of infiltration before the events and protests surrounding the protest.
In the video, they are seen talking to police officers about the growing number of people at the protest site. The warning was issued to keep organisers on their toes and take responsibility for maintaining discipline among participants.
The officers told the organisers that a large number of people who are not connected with the original cause may come into the audience and engage in activities that can disrupt a peaceful protest.
According to the police, anti-social and criminal elements may utilize the size of the crowd to their advantage. Such individuals may try to incite disorder, provoke confrontations, or carry out acts that could jeopardize the safety of protesters, police, and the public.
The video has made news because police concerns were being depicted as being communicated to them in advance. The footage was described to the public as a “shocking revelation,” and the warning adds to the complexity of the management of the gathering and the responsibilities of protest organisers, supporters said.
However, an exact date, full context, and sequence of events shown in the video have not been established independently from the claim. The video's circulation does not indicate what happened after the warning or whether any alleged anti-social or criminal elements were involved in later developments.
The reference to the 19th is understood to be related to the date the video was filmed. The video is now being circulated again as there is much talk about Jantar Mantar and how the organisers can manage the large crowds.
The footage indicates senior police officials talking to the organisers instead of issuing a public statement. If presented properly, the interactions suggest that law enforcement officials were monitoring the size of the gathering and were concerned about the dangers of a growing crowd.
Organisers of large public events often have to coordinate with police authorities. They may need to communicate safety warnings, find volunteers, control entry and exit points, and discourage people from engaging in unlawful activities. Police are responsible for maintaining public order and security.
The newly unearthed video has raised questions about whether the warning was properly heeded and whether the organisation was adequately prepared for the number of people that came in and how to manage individuals who didn't have permission to be there.
Until now, the video should be viewed with caution until all the footage, date, and context are independently verified. The claim that the New Delhi DCP and Joint CP warned Saurav Das and other organisers about the presence of anti-social or criminal elements is based on the description accompanying the resurfaced video.
But the video has given a new layer to the Jantar Mantar protest. If the footage and the context are verified, it will demonstrate police had concerns about crowd size and the potential misuse of the gathering before subsequent developments.
Clarification from Delhi police, the organisers, and other authorities may help establish the full context of the interaction and the measures taken following the reported warning.
