New Delhi: Several video of the protests from a day ago in central Delhi appear to show plain-clothed men holding what appear to be standard-issue police batons, leading many on social media including the Cockroach Janata Party, to question their presence.

"Who are these lathi-armed goons in plainclothes @DelhiPolice? Who have you hired on your force to beat us up? Why are such monsters called police in India?" the CJP outfit posted on X on July 21.

A day ago, several thousands of people had marched to the parliament and gathered near the Jantar Mantar in response to a call by the CJP against India's education system and the costly NEET exam leaks. The police responded brutally, with lathicharge and tear gas. Many have reported serious injuries, although a total number of injured has not emerged.

In the video that CJP posted, a man in plain clothes is among others sitting with batons. When he and his fellow baton-holders are questioned by protesters, policemen in uniform seem to appear and tell them off. Then the policemen and the plain-clothed baton holders begin beating up the protesters who asked questions.

The same men were photographed by others too. Journalist Ravish Kumar in Hindi asked on X, "Who are these people who came armed with sticks? There was a time when crime reporters would tip off their sources even before the police. Seems like now even they’ve been trapped in the WhatsApp group’s mosquito net. Goons suddenly barged into JNU’s Sabarmati Hostel. Whatever happened with that case? Did anyone get punished?"

Other journalists, like YouTuber Samdish Bhatia, asked plain-clothed men why they were dressed so.

Another video posted by CJP shows a claim made by protesters on how policemen were allegedly breaking bus and car windows themselves.

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