Delhi Police Ramp Up Social Media Campaign and Surveillance Ahead of October 10 Protest

The Delhi Police have identified 500 individuals and 200 digital channels in a sweeping surveillance effort ahead of a planned October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar. The force is escalating its perception management strategy to counter what officials describe as an organized cyber warfare campaign aimed at damaging the department’s reputation.

Surveillance of Protesters and Digital Networks

According to documentation reviewed by The Hindu, the Delhi Police have compiled a list of 500 individuals likely to participate in the upcoming demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The list includes core team members, supporters, and staff associated with the organizers, such as drivers and domestic workers. Beyond individual tracking, the force is monitoring 200 WhatsApp and Telegram channels identified as primary hubs for protest mobilization.

The scope of surveillance extends to the media covering the event. Officials confirmed they are tracking at least 100 individuals who identify as independent journalists, along with 20 associated channels. This data collection represents an intensification of the police’s approach compared to the CJP’s previous demonstration in July, where the force acknowledged it was largely reactive to narratives that had already gained significant traction online. The police are now constantly tracking the social media and day-to-day activities of the identified individuals.

The Shift Toward Proactive Narrative Control

The Delhi Police are attempting to bridge a significant gap in digital engagement. During the July protest, the force observed that content supporting demonstrators vastly outnumbered official police accounts. An official close to the matter stated that the police have begun examining why their version of events failed to gain similar algorithmic traction on platforms like Meta and X.

The current strategy involves a rapid-response cycle: monitoring material posted by protesters and immediately circulating the police’s account of the same incidents. The official handle of the Delhi Police on X has begun sharing videos of personnel allegedly injured during protests, images of damaged uniforms, and footage of officers assisting colleagues who collapsed during demonstrations. These posts also feature assessments from senior officers regarding protest incidents. The force believes the previous imbalance in online content helped shape public perception against them, putting the department on the defensive.

Operational Challenges for Event Organizers

As the October 10 protest approaches, the increased police scrutiny creates a complex environment for those involved in civic engagement.

The police have maintained that their objective is to present “the police’s side of the story” rather than suppress evidence. “We are not posting CCTV footage or any evidence material, but whatever other people are sharing, we are telling our side of the story,” an official stated. The Perception Management and Media Cell, which oversees this initiative, was established in October 2021 and has since become central to how the department manages its public image during civil unrest.

Context of Recent Civil Unrest

The tension surrounding the upcoming October 10 demonstration follows a separate incident on October 7, 2026, when police detained protesters in New Delhi who were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The police continue to work with social media platforms to analyze why their official content is not being amplified by algorithms as effectively as user-generated material.

Metrics of the Monitoring Campaign

The police are currently maintaining a heightened state of alert as they monitor the online networks used for mobilization. With the October 10 protest date nearing, the department’s reliance on digital surveillance and perception management remains a primary feature of its operational strategy in the capital.