Delhi Police compile ‘database’ of potential protesters, make calls and visit homes ahead of October 10 Jantar Mantar protest

Security personnel stand guard on Jantar Mantar Road amidst heavy security deployment ahead of a proposed protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on October 9, 2026 | Photo Credit: PTI The Delhi Police have compiled a ‘database’ of people likely to participate in the October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar and are coordinating with law enforcement agencies across States to prevent them from reaching the capital, sources said. As part of the preventive measures, police in several States have detained potential participants, questioned supporters about their plans and visited their homes ahead of the proposed demonstration.The effort to intercept protesters at their starting points mirrors the Delhi Police’s district-wise strategy to prevent people from reaching central Delhi. With the protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and student organisations, the police are tracking potential participants through social media activity, intelligence inputs and coordination with State agencies, sources said.Keep track | CEC row LIVE updates: INDIA bloc MPs delegation meets President, other leaders stopped at Vijay ChowkThe Union Home Ministry has also directed States and Union Territories to operationalise preventive measures in coordination with the Delhi Police, citing intelligence inputs that CJP supporters intended to defy prohibitory orders and enter Delhi from different parts of the country.The Ministry said earlier protests involving participants travelling from multiple States had resulted in significant disruption to public order and damage to public property.It also called for continuous, real-time intelligence sharing among State intelligence agencies, transit authorities and the Delhi Police, describing the maintenance of law and order as a “non-negotiable constitutional imperative”.The surveillance extends to online networks being used to mobilise participants for the protest. The Hindu had earlier reported that the Delhi Police had identified at least 200 WhatsApp and Instagram groups being used to mobilise people from different parts of the country. Police have been monitoring these groups and tracking users discussing plans to attend the demonstration, sources said.The Delhi Police’s cyber unit is also monitoring the social media activity of people expected to join the protest, alongside keeping watch on key organisers, including the CJP’s core team and their associates.People travelling in groups, students and young people, those who have participated in earlier public movements, and social media users actively discussing protests are among those being scrutinised.Across the country, supporters, members of organising bodies and students have alleged that police personnel have contacted them to ask whether they intend to travel to Delhi on October 10. Some have also alleged that police visited their homes to dissuade them from joining the demonstration.“One of the people who received a call from the Delhi Police Special Branch said the officer asked whether they planned to go to Jantar Mantar on Saturday,” an X user said.Independent journalists and content creators have also alleged that they received calls from the police asking whether they intended to cover the protest, and preventing them from travelling to Delhi.The measures come as the Delhi Police have denied permission for the October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, citing violations of conditions imposed during an earlier demonstration, and concerns over law and order and traffic management. Published - October 09, 2026 09:18 pm IST