Plainclothes Police at CJP Protest Sparks Debate Over Identification Rules

The deployment of plainclothes police officers wielding lathis during a CJP protest has drawn criticism due to the absence of uniforms and identification. Senior police officials defended the practice, stating it is necessary for intelligence gathering and managing large crowds. Such undercover deployments are not new, though they create ambiguity and confusion during public demonstrations. While no strict rule prohibits the practice, police leadership has now begun discouraging it. Officers have been advised to avoid plainclothes deployment unless situations escalate or there is a shortage of uniformed personnel.