As the crowd continues to swell at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police have deployed powerful cameras and at least three mobile surveillance vans around the venue. The devices continuously capture live images and run them past a police database to identify and isolate people with criminal records. Also read: Jantar Mantar protest updates on July 24 On Thursday (July 23, 2026) night, additional CCTV cameras were installed around Jantar Mantar and the images were played on screens inside a mobile police control room. The protesters have expressed apprehension over the use of such technology. “It is quite scary as we have not informed our parents about coming to the protest,” said Anushka, a first-year Delhi University student who was at the site for the first time on Friday (July 24). “We have been using masks to cover our faces, but it may not work against surveillance mechanisms of the Delhi Police. It is highly unethical of them to use it without our consent even if it is for surveillance of criminals,” she added. Another participant said surveillance has been under way since the first day of the protest. “Drones, videographers, CCTVs have been capturing visuals of the protest. The police say it is to track criminals but what is the intent behind this usage? Also, how can AI cameras determine the intent of the person at the protest?” asked Anuj Sharma from Dehradun, adding that it does not scare him. The Delhi Police have deployed its DP-Dristhi and Ikshana surveillance vans and a Mobile Command and Control Vehicle, which uses AI-assisted facial recognition technology to scan live CCTV feeds. The police say the technology is used to identify known offenders and investigate violence, while protesters say it has created fear among them about police surveillance and misuse of footage. The