Videos of Plainclothes Men Wielding Batons at Jantar Mantar Go Viral; Was There a Major Lapse in Crowd Assessment and Control?
Viral Videos of Plainclothes Men Wielding Batons Raise Questions Over Police Crowd-Control at Jantar Mantar
Questions have been raised over the use of force and the deployment of plainclothes police personnel after police action during the Parliament march. Viral videos showing baton-wielding men in civilian clothes have triggered a debate over whether established crowd-control protocols were followed.
During the protest, police used batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. While some viral videos appeared to show protesters throwing stones, others showed police personnel using force, with several individuals in plain clothes also seen wielding batons.
Police officials said the deployment had been planned keeping the presence of women protesters in mind. However, former police officers have questioned both the crowd assessment and the manner in which force was used.
Police Admit Crowd Size Was Larger Than Expected
According to senior police officials, authorities had not anticipated such a large turnout. The participation of several political parties and the arrival of students from schools and colleges significantly increased the crowd size.
Officials said experienced political leaders allegedly encouraged protesters to break through barricades, after which some demonstrators became aggressive and attempted to push forward. Police also alleged that stone-pelting took place, prompting officers to use baton charges and tear gas to prevent a law-and-order situation from escalating.
What Is the Standard Procedure for Using Force?
A former police officer explained that the use of force during protests is governed by a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
According to the SOP:
- Police should first engage with protesters and ask them to disperse peacefully or comply with agreed conditions.
- Warnings must be issued through loudspeakers before any force is used.
- If the crowd refuses to disperse or turns violent, police may use minimum necessary force.
- Depending on the situation, authorities should first use water cannons, followed by tear gas, and only then resort to a limited baton charge, aimed below the waist.
- The objective is to disperse the crowd, not to inflict unnecessary injuries.
- Firearms may only be used in self-defence when there is an imminent threat to life or risk of serious injury.
Questions Raised Over Plainclothes Personnel
Former police officials also questioned the deployment of plainclothes personnel in active crowd-control operations.
One retired officer argued that if a person in civilian clothes uses a baton during a protest, demonstrators may not be able to identify them as police officers. In such circumstances, a protester could potentially claim they acted in self-defence, believing they were being attacked by a private individual rather than law enforcement.
The former officer further stated that baton charges should only be carried out under the orders of senior officers, and that deploying personnel in plain clothes for such duties raises legal and operational concerns. He also noted that police personnel performing operational duties without proper uniform may face complications regarding official protections and service-related benefits if injured during the operation.
Police have not publicly responded to the specific allegations regarding the presence of plainclothes baton-wielding personnel seen in the viral videos.