India, July 31 -- Investigation into the July 20 clashes during the "Chalo Sansad" protest organised by the CJP has revealed that some protesters may have used AI tools to learn methods of countering police crowd-control measures, including use of wet jute bags to minimise effects of tear gas, police sources said on Thursday. According to the source, the ongoing investigation has indicated that some participants may have searched artificial intelligence (AI) platforms for information on mitigating the impact of tear gas, and preparing for confrontations with security personnel. "The investigation is being carried out through multiple methods. We have reasons to believe that some protesters used AI tools or other generative AI platforms to search for ways to immediately reduce the effects of tear gas, including use of wet jute bags, and to prepare themselves with hard hats, masks and goggles," the source stated.
He said police are in the process of collecting evidence, which is a time taking process. Police are also probing the alleged distribution of hard hats, face masks and protective goggles among protesters before and during the demonstration, with the source claiming these items may have been intended to help participants withstand police action during the violence. The source said investigation is underway and police teams were collecting digital and other evidence to substantiate the findings. Police have not disclosed names of any AI platforms allegedly accessed, nor have they said whether any digital devices have been forensically examined to establish such searches.
The July 20 protest witnessed clashes between protesters and security personnel at multiple locations, including Parliament Street, Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar in the New Delhi district after demonstrators allegedly attempted to breach police barricades. According to the police, several incidents of stone-pelting were reported during the violence, forcing security personnel to resort to repeated use of lathi-charge, tear gas, and even pellet guns to disperse the crowd. Police alleged that more than 200 police personnel sustained injuries in the clashes, while over 65 protesters were injured. More than 15 vehicles, including police vehicles, were damaged during the violence. Additionally, a 'Zero FIR' has been registered against a young woman at the Expressway police station under the Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissionerate for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a July 23 protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The complaint, filed by Smriti Singh, alleged that Ruchika Singh used objectionable language against the Prime Minister and attempted to disturb public peace. Police registered the FIR under Sections 352, 353(1) and 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.