Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Delhi Police tracks 500 people and 200 channels ahead of protest
Delhi Police has stepped up its online outreach before an October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The force says it wants to counter online coverage that it believes showed it negatively during a July demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party.
Police have identified at least 500 people they believe may help mobilise for the protest, including supporters and people associated with organisers.
They are also tracking around 200 WhatsApp and Telegram channels police say are being used to mobilise people.
The force is monitoring people who describe themselves as independent journalists and says it is working with social media platforms to examine how its posts are distributed.
Police are now posting their account of incidents shown in material shared by protesters and others, rather than using CCTV footage or other evidence, an official said.
The campaign reflects the police’s effort to shape public understanding of the protest, and its monitoring is continuing as the force prepares for it.
Delhi Police has identified at least 500 people and around 200 WhatsApp and Telegram channels it says may be involved in mobilising for an October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar.
The force is monitoring the online activity of those people and channels, as well as material posted by protesters and others.
Police officials say they are increasing their social media outreach to counter what they describe as a “cyber warfare” campaign.
The strategy follows a July demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party, after which police said online content supporting demonstrators had outpaced content presenting the police account.
The police has circulated videos and statements presenting its account of incidents during demonstrations.
- Who
- Delhi Police is tracking people and social media channels linked to protest mobilisation.
- What
- The force has identified at least 500 people and around 200 WhatsApp and Telegram channels ahead of a protest.
- When
- Ahead of the October 10 protest. The article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
- Why
- Police say they are monitoring mobilisation and countering online content they believe has portrayed the force negatively.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Cockroach Janta Party held a demonstration, after which police said online content supporting demonstrators had gained more traction than content presenting the police account.
Delhi Police posted on X about mutual respect.
Police detained protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi.
Delhi Police posted a video about officers’ resilience.
A protest was planned at Jantar Mantar.
- People identified
- At least 500
- WhatsApp and Telegram channels identified
- Around 200
- Independent journalists monitored
- At least 100
- Channels associated with independent journalists
- Around 20
- Planned protest
- October 10 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
What people are saying
Concentrated efforts are being made to show the police’s side of the story.
We are not posting CCTV footage or any evidence material, but whatever other people are sharing, we are telling our side of the story.