New Delhi, Jan 5 (IANS): Following circulation of social media messages of an imminent police crackdown, the number of agitators at the anti-CAA protest site in Shaheenbagh swelled dramatically by Sunday evening.

In afternoon, a number of messages were doing rounds on social media about an imminent police crackdown on protestors, who have been camping at the site since December 17.

As the evening approached, more protestors and sympathisers gathered at the protest site to show solidarity as well as block the police action. But there was no unnatural increase in the police presence and the message turned out be rumour.

When queried, protestors at the spot told IANS the rumours started circulating after a local showroom owner came to open his shop, accompanied by the police. But within minutes, the security forces returned.

Sources in the Delhi Police also confirmed that there was no plan to beef up security on the spot, and the messages were circulated only to increase footfalls at the protest venue.

Meanwhile, protestors have gone into a defensive mode and are checking and frisking every person entering the protest venue.

Volunteers said it was being done to prevent troublemakers from entering the venue to foment trouble by causing face-off with the police.