40 FIRs over anti-SIR protests in Delhi; police scan CCTV footage to identify demonstrators

Delhi Police has registered at least 40 First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the national capital since October 10, with teams analysing CCTV footage to identify those involved in the demonstrations, officials told The Hindu.

The cases have been registered under various charges, including violation of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), vandalism and obstruction of public servants, among others. While the accused have not yet been named in these FIRs, the police are working to identify the protesters and those who “mobilised” them, officials said.

Police teams are examining CCTV footage as part of the investigations, and action will be initiated against those identified, officials said.

The FIRs were registered as protests continued over several days following a call by various youth outfits, including the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on October 10, demanding the rollback of the SIR and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrations by student groups, youth organisations and women’s organisations followed, along with a rally by the INDIA bloc on October 12.

Officials said the police had been detaining protesters and registering cases on a daily basis for alleged violations during the demonstrations. Timely registration of FIRs was necessary to document the alleged offences and avoid delays that could be difficult to justify during court proceedings.

‘Car with sticks’

The police have also registered an FIR and arrested four occupants of a car allegedly seen carrying wooden sticks and batons near Connaught Place on October 11. The Uttar Pradesh-registered vehicle has been seized and remains in police custody.

The car triggered controversy after it was spotted near the protest site with a large number of wooden sticks inside. Journalists and protesters raised concerns about the vehicle, but police personnel initially allowed it to leave the area. The occupants were later seen near the demonstrations brandishing sticks and confronting protesters.

After videos of the incident circulated widely on social media, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said on X that the vehicle had been taken to a police station for verification and that a search had found “nothing illegal or objectionable”. The occupants were also found to have no criminal records, the police had said.

However, the police have now registered an FIR and arrested the four occupants. Investigators said they are also identifying other people associated with the accused and involved in violence during the protests.

Separately, the Delhi Police have registered at least 10 FIRs after taking cognisance of social media posts alleging that right-wing activists assaulted protesters during the anti-SIR demonstrations. Investigations into those cases are under way.

Officials said the police had not received a call on the emergency helpline 112 regarding the alleged attacks on protesters. The police are also examining videos circulating on social media that purportedly show a vehicle carrying several khaki uniforms, along with footage of alleged assaults on demonstrators, to identify those involved and investigate the incidents.