AS DELHI Police have begun its investigation into CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, which turned violent on Monday, some chat messages allegedly exchanged between protesters have come to light suggesting preparations to maintain connectivity during a possible Internet shutdown, while others point towards a willingness to sacrifice lives for the cause. Sources said on Tuesday that investigators were verifying the authenticity of the chats and the identities of the persons involved before drawing any conclusions. Some of the alleged messages referred to maintaining communication in the event of Internet services being disrupted, with users discussing alternative ways to stay connected and relay information during the march, a police source said. PTI has accessed those group conversations which allegedly took place around the time of the clashes, which left 118 police personnel and 70 protesters injured and over 15 to 20 Government vehicles damaged.

 

“After reaching the protest site you might not get network in your device. Police last time also used network jammers and this time too can do so. However it is very important to stay connected to the group you came with,” read one of the alleged chats. Investigators said that the protesters also suggested some applications which could work using Bluetooth signals, the source said, adding their links were also shared in the same chat. Police were investigating such applications and said that they would take action accordingly. “Make sure all of your group have the same app installed and are already connected before entering the protest site,” one of the messages read. The digital material was being analysed alongside CCTV footage, drone visuals, mobile phone videos and other electronic evidence collected during the probe.

 

The messages also contained politically charged remarks and calls for mobilisation. In one exchange, a participant claimed the following day would mark the “last day of Modi Government.” A few messages reflected a willingness among some participants that they are ready to even sacrifice their lives during the protest. “Dekho yarr jo jaan dene tak ko taiyaar woh ye sunlo ke kam se kam tumhara ehsan to rahega aane wali pidiyon par, aane wale bacho par (if someone died, future generations would remember such sacrifice),” read the alleged message. “Bhai agar kisi ki maut hoti hai to usme to sarkar pe zyada pressure aayega (if someone dies, then it will create a lot of pressure on the Government),” read another message. Investigators were examining the context in which these remarks were made. They were trying to ascertain whether the chats merely reflected personal opinions exchanged among participants or formed part of a coordinated effort connected with the events that unfolded during the protest. According to police, forensic examination of digital communications was underway, while cyber experts were assisting investigators in establishing the origin, circulation and authenticity of the messages.

 

“Every message was being subjected to technical verification before being treated as evidence,” said the source. Kejriwal seeks release of FIR, detainee lists after CJP protest: AAM Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday wrote a letter to DCP, New Delhi, seeking immediate release of the lists of FIRs and detained protesters following the Cockroach Janta Party protest. Kejriwal also visited the Parliament Street police station and reiterated the demands before Delhi Police.

 

“I am given to understand that a number of FIRs have been registered against the people who were protesting at Jantar Mantar yesterday demanding accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi about failures in the education system,” Kejrwal said in his letter to DCP New Delhi Sachin Sharma. “I am also given to understand that a number of people have been held in custody after the protest without any registration of FIRs,” he added. Kejriwal reached the Jantar Mantar protest site on Tuesday and expressed solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters, claiming that they forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to yield. Addressing the supporters, the former Delhi chief minister also assured full legal aid to the protesters who were detained during their ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest on Monday.

THE Cockroach Janta Party protesters camped at Jantar Mantar through the night despite heavy rain, tight security and a police crackdown on them during the “Sansad Chalo” march a day ago. On Tuesday morning, volunteers cleaned the protest site, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke apologised to supporters injured in the police action. Heavy security remained in place around the protest venue as volunteers were seen cleaning the stage, the only structure left standing after police removed the tents and other temporary installations on Monday. Even the tent covering the stage was in a tattered condition.

 

A group of young supporters narrated their experiences to Dipke, alleging that police personnel without name tags had beaten up the protesters, including women, and called them “terrorists”. Dipke was seen folding his hands and apologising to them. He told the gathering that contrary to the allegations circulating on social media, none of the movement’s leaders had abandoned the protest site. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das had gone to meet Union Minister J P Nadda in an effort to find a resolution to the standoff, he told them. Later, in an X post, Dipke apologised to those injured in the crackdown. “I apologise to all our supporters, especially the girls who were brutally beaten up by male police officers. We could have done better. I could have done better to protect you from the inhumane actions of the Delhi Police,” he wrote. “To protect one Dharmendra Pradhan, who is responsible for the deaths of more than 20 students, the government was willing to spill the blood of many more young students,” Dipke alleged.