Delhi police release video disputing claims of a crowd at Jantar Mantar

Delhi police said no protesters were gathered at Jantar Mantar on October 10 and released a short video to dispute social media claims of a large crowd at the site.

The New Delhi deputy commissioner of police posted the 37-second recording amid security measures surrounding a proposed Cockroach Janta Party protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The footage showed an empty area at the protest venue.

The Hindu reported that police had arranged security to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar and detained more than 3,000 people elsewhere in New Delhi district. That figure refers to the district, rather than the whole capital.

The video documents the scene shown when it was recorded. An empty venue does not establish that no protests or detentions occurred in other parts of Delhi.