Be mindful of ‘public perception’ while handling protests, Mumbai Police brass tells force

Mumbai Police officials have advised officers to be aware of the public's perception while managing protests. Officers were shown examples set by the Delhi Police, such as uploading videos of personnel facing challenges during protests. These videos included constables appearing weak and being mistreated by crowds, as well as instances of police offering assistance to protesters.

The Delhi Police also documented moments like informing Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, about his grandmother's death. Dipke was detained in Delhi after threatening protests over allegations of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's alleged mishandling of voter records. The Mumbai Police have seen a surge of protests in recent days, including at August Kranti Maidan and Shivaji Park.

Much of the Mumbai Police force has been assigned to duties related to festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Mount Mary, and Navratri alongside handling protests. The Delhi Police established a "perception management" division in 2021 to counter negative social media portrayals of their actions during protests. This division aims to manage public sentiment by posting counter videos addressing the criticisms faced.