Major Crackdown: Delhi Police Identify 480 Pakistan-Based Social Media Handles Spreading Fake News On CJP Protest

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have taken big action against online misinformation linked to the ongoing CJP protest, identifying and blocking 480 social media handles that were operating from Pakistan. The Delhi Police confirmed that the accounts were engaged in a coordinated campaign to spread fake news and propaganda.

According to the police, the handles were used to circulate inflammatory and misleading content to escalate tensions and mislead students and young people. The police have ensured a massive crackdown on the Pakistan-based social media handles amid heightened scrutiny of how foreign entities may be attempting to influence public discourse around sensitive domestic issues.

In its advisory, the Delhi Police urged students and youth to remain vigilant, saying, “Delhi Police urges students and youth to be wary of such foreign social media accounts. Do not rely on rumors and misinformation; seek information only from official sources. Do not share any suspicious or inflammatory posts without verification.”

Amidst the ongoing protest, Delhi is bracing for major disruptions as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest intensifies in the heart of the capital. The police have rolled out a series of security measures, including the closure of metro stations, suspension of mobile internet near the protest site and a sweeping action against alleged foreign-backed misinformation.

The administration stressed that the steps are to maintain public order and prevent the spread of rumours that could escalate tensions.

At the same time, a political row has broken out after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged a late-night crackdown, drawing a sharp rebuttal from Delhi Police, who urged public figures to refrain from circulating unverified information.

Internet Curbs And Police Action On Social Media

In a separate order, the government ordered suspension of the mobile internet services within a 1.5 km radius of Jantar Mantar in New Delhi from 4 pm to 12 midnight. The government stated that the move was “in the interest of public order to prevent incitement to the commission of any offence”.

The Delhi Police have also taken action online, saying that the force identified and blocked 480 social media handles operating from Pakistan that were allegedly part of a coordinated campaign to spread fake news and propaganda around the CJP protest.  

The Delhi Police also urged students and youth to be wary of such foreign social media accounts and cautioned them from relying on rumours and misinformation, advising them to seek information only from official sources. The students and youth have also been advised not to share any suspicious or inflammatory posts without verification.

Kejriwal Alleges Crackdown, Police Deny Claim

The protest also triggered a political flashpoint after former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal posted on X in Hindi, saying, “Orders to close all shops in Connaught Place by 6:30 PM this evening. Intense security. Piles of ambulances. Will the Modi government once again brutally attack its own children at Jantar Mantar today?”

The Delhi Police responded immediately, rejecting the claim and cautioning against misinformation. “There is no plan of Delhi police to crack down on the ongoing protest tonight as is being conveyed. You are advised to refrain from spreading or circulating any misleading/ unverified information,” the police said.

Metro Services Hit: 17 Stations To Remain Closed

The commuters have been advised to plan ahead as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that 17 stations will stay shut from 7.30 am on July 24 until further notice. The DMRC stated that while entry and exit at these stations will be suspended, passengers will still be able to interchange at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.

The DMRC officials have asked people to check updates before travelling and to allow additional time, given the anticipated rush and diversions caused by the closures around the protest zone.