Activists in India have challenged Narendra Modi’s government over the use of AI-powered surveillance during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest. 

The controversy erupted when protesters and media reports showed a police surveillance van equipped with cameras on a telescopic mast providing a 360-degree view of the gathering.

Student activist Aishe Ghosh has asked the Delhi High Court to declare mass surveillance of protesters ​unconstitutional.

She also wants the court to order the destruction of all personal data collected during the CJP demonstration.

India has no law governing the use of facial recognition technology by police and surveillance ​at the main protest site in New Delhi was a breach of the law, activists say.

During the case’s hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended the Indian police conduct, saying privacy claims at a public gathering were ‘ironical’ and the checks were ‘absolutely necessary’ and ‘in legitimate state interest’.

Use of pellet guns

Meanwhile, an internal inquiry has found that at least a dozen personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were issued pellet guns on the morning of July 20 to quell the CJP protests.

The weapons were withdrawn on July 23 after allegations that they were used to harm the protesters, according to a report by Indian newspaper The Hindustan Times.

RAF is a specialised unit within the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed to handle riots and other public disturbances across the country.

Reportedly, five people have alleged that they were hit with pellets on July 20.

The probe has quoted a CRPF inspector as saying that he didn’t issue any order to fire the pellet guns, the officials cited above added.

However, a general diary entry filed at Parliament Street police station reveals that the RAF fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer of the police, as reported by the Indian newspaper The Hindu.

Bihar, Assam to withdraw cases

Hours after the CJP issued a statement over a breach of their demand to withdraw police cases against protesters – the ruling BJP’s Bihar and Assam governments said that all such charges will be dropped and protesters detained before 6pm on July 26 will be released.

The party’s West Bengal government, however, has not given any such assurances.

Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh had assured the party that no action would be taken against peaceful protesters, news agency PTI reported.

In a press release issued by the Home and Political Department the Assam government said five cases had been registered in Assam in connection with the protests, leading to the arrest of 13 people.

“No adverse legal action will be initiated by any of the Police authorities within the State against those persons who have been involved in these protests,” the press release said.

The statement said that the process of withdrawing the registered cases, irrespective of the stage of proceedings within Assam, will be initiated promptly as per law.

According to the police, altogether 694 people had been detained for participating in the protests in Bihar.

The Bihar government also announced that it will withdraw all cases lodged against protesters over the NEET paper leak and release those jailed under various charges.

DW