Police records flag 22 Jantar Mantar protesters as being in custody during July unrest

Delhi Police said 22 people identified at or near Jantar Mantar during the July 20-25 protest and violence were shown in police records as being in custody on those dates.

A senior officer said technical surveillance, including video from multiple sources and facial-recognition system analysis, placed the 22 around the protest site. But the officer said a custody entry does not necessarily mean a person was physically in jail: records can continue to show custody after a temporary release on parole, furlough or for medical treatment.

Police counted the 22 among 162 people they said had been booked earlier in murder or rape cases. Of the 2,873 people identified as having alleged criminal antecedents, police said 989 were linked to offences they categorised as heinous, including dacoity, robbery, snatching, kidnapping, Arms Act and narcotics cases.

The officer said police would examine the circumstances of the 22 people’s release if a fresh case is registered against the wider group. The findings follow Delhi Police’s post-clash intelligence tightening after the July 20 events at Jantar Mantar.