CJP protest: How government pre-empted 'plot to incite violence'

NEW DELHI: After an action-filled day in which Delhi Police and security forces thwarted plans of CJP and opposition parties, govt and security establishment seemed satisfied with how events panned out. Sources said intelligence agencies had warned of possible violence, citing plans to turn "several sites in central Delhi into mini Jantar Mantars" by placing students and youth in front. The July 20 violence had shown CJP planners were adept at springing surprises, keeping a tent pitched at Jantar Mantar for 20 days despite an undertaking to stay for a single day, while using burner phones, encrypted platforms like Signal and peer-to-peer messaging apps. "Trusting them and allowing them to gather and camp at Jantar Mantar helped them attract all kinds of elements, including impressionable youth and students. This time, we were determined not to fall into the same trap," a govt functionary said.

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BJP's intent to tough it out was evident in defence minister Rajnath Singh's remarks. "Dissent is allowed in democracy, but anarchy has no space," he said, adding that conspiracies to destroy the credibility of constitutional institutions could never be accepted. Security establishment credited a larger police perimeter with preventing crowds from entering Jantar Mantar and keeping the core Lutyens zone out of major trouble. Police detained CJP and opposition supporters across Delhi, preventing smaller groups from merging and building the numbers needed to breach barricades. Real-time intelligence from mesh messaging apps helped cops track protesters' locations, group sizes and movements, allowing command centres to redirect forces and stay ahead on the ground.

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