New Delhi, July 28 -- At least 2,873 people with alleged "criminal antecedents" were identified among protesters who attended the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) agitation at and around Jantar Mantar, with nearly 989 allegedly "linked to heinous offences", claimed Delhi Police officials who asked not to be identified.

The officials said the identification was carried out through technical surveillance, including analysis of video footage from multiple sources and the Delhi Police's facial recognition system (FRS).

To be sure, Delhi Police declined to officially authenticate the figures or place them on record. Officers also did not share the names of the individuals identified, details of the criminal cases against them, photographs, or vid...