Threatening videos surfaced ahead of the October 10 Jantar Mantar protest, prompting Delhi Police to monitor social media posts. Men in these clips called for people to bring batons and confront demonstrators. CJP’s Saurav Das said, "The government wants to create major unrest in the country by pitting citizens."
Videos allegedly call for men to reach Jantar Mantar with batons and confront protesters; CJP urges Delhi Police to prevent 'right-wing extremists' from entering the protest zone
Ahead of the October 10 protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, several videos containing threats of violence against demonstrators have circulated on social media, prompting the organisers to urge the Delhi Police to prevent those issuing threats from reaching the protest site.
In the videos making the rounds on X, men can be heard calling on people to gather at Jantar Mantar with batons and threatening to confront those participating in the demonstration.
In one video, a man using the handle 'Hindu Arun Yadav' is seen holding a baton and calling for a gathering of physically fit men from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. "If 50 men of six feet each stand with me, I will not leave any of these cockroaches. Police are not needed. I'll see you all," he says.
He further calls on people to "pick up batons" and reach Jantar Mantar on October 10, while accusing the protesters of attempting to "spread terror in the country".
In another video, a man calls on people to join him on October 10 to "deal with" the protesters, alleging that they were using the issue of "vote chori" to create unrest. The speaker refers to earlier protests over paper leaks and the attempt by protesters to enter Parliament, and claims that the current demonstration was similarly aimed at undermining the government.
"So join me on the 10th. Reach Jantar Mantar with a baton; we will deal with them," the man says in the video, referring to the protesters as "anti-nationals".
The videos come amid heightened political tensions surrounding the proposed protest, being organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other youth organisations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the special intensive revision of electoral rolls across the country. Organisers have maintained that their demonstration will be peaceful.
CJP slams govt.
CJP's Saurav Das urged the Delhi Police to take preventive action against those allegedly issuing threats. "I have said this before and I am saying it again: the government wants to create major unrest in the country by pitting citizens against citizens. They want to create a civil war-like situation. But we, the young generation, have always remained peaceful," he said.
Mr Das urged the police to ensure that those he described as "right-wing extremists" did not enter the protest zone and called for them to be detained before they reached the site. "The fault will entirely be of the BJP government and Delhi Police if anything untoward happens," he said, alleging that the video was "inciting fringe elements to create violence against young citizens".
Ashutosh Ranka, co-convenor of the CJP, also alleged that right-wing groups had been mobilised to target the protesters. He said the CJP's demonstration would remain peaceful.
Mr Ranka said any violence against protesters would not be tolerated and called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take note of the situation.
Monitoring threats: police
The Delhi Police, meanwhile, said it was monitoring social media posts linked to the proposed demonstration and tracking individuals found to be issuing threats or attempting to incite violence.
"We are keeping a check on such individuals who are posting videos inciting the public. They are on our radar, and we are constantly keeping a tab. Anyone indulging in hate speech, violence or threatening behaviour is tracked and identified, and action will be taken if they act on any of it," a Delhi Police official said.
An official of the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit said the individuals were being tracked, but confirmed that no case had been registered so far in connection with the videos.
The police response comes as security arrangements are being closely monitored ahead of the October 10 protest, with officials maintaining that any attempt to incite violence or threaten participants will be dealt with in accordance with law.