Shahdara PS clash: Why did 150 Delhi police officers protest at headquarters? What led to the suspension of ACP Manasvi Vashishtha? | Today’s news
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday suspended Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Manasvi Vashishth pending proceedings in the ministry after he participated in a protest near the police headquarters, which was held to demand the reinstatement of two police personnel who were transferred following a confrontation between police and lawyers at Delhi Police Station in Shahdara.
Vashishtha himself is one of the two officers in whose support this protest was held, the other being Arun Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahdara Police Station.
Why are Delhi Police personnel protesting?
Around 150 Delhi police officers, including women police officers, gathered outside the force headquarters on Monday to cancel the transfer of the two officers following a confrontation at the Shahdara police station.
Both officers were transferred after the lawyer suffered a head injury during the scuffle.
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Vashishtha, who was earlier posted as sub-divisional police officer in Gandhi Nagar, has been transferred to the special women and children police unit. Kumar was assigned to the security unit.
On Monday, policemen held placards and placards, raised slogans of “vardi ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (we will not tolerate insult to uniform) and demanded the return of the two officials to their previous posts.
A police delegation met Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and presented five demands, which included action against lawyers involved in the Shahdara incident and registration of FIRs against lawyers indulging in “hooliganism”.
Vashishtha led the protest; the seniors tried to discourage the staff
Vashishtha himself led the protest and PTI reported that messages were circulating in police WhatsApp groups asking personnel to gather at headquarters.
Speaking to reporters at the protest site, Vashishtha said the demonstration was an “organic challenge” and that he was joining it.
Vashistha said they have asked senior officers to provide them a platform to present their views and have also submitted a formal request in this regard.
“We are confident that senior officers will give us an opportunity to put forward our views. We will speak openly and a solution to the matter will surely emerge,” he said, according to a PTI report.
“We have taken a stand because it is necessary to raise our voice against the hooliganism faced by the police and the security problems arising in the police stations. Some people are involved in hooliganism while disguising themselves and are enemies not only to us but to the entire society,” he added.
The TOI report also reveals that a number of videos have surfaced of senior officers trying to dissuade officers from joining the protest. DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma was seen reminding officers in the video that they are part of a disciplined and professional force and should raise issues, according to the department’s official channels, the report said.
Sharma also reached the spot and tried to convince the protesting personnel to call off their demonstration.
Commissioner Kumar organized ‘Sampark Sabha’
Following the protest, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar organized a ‘Sampark Sabha’ at the headquarters where he along with special commissioners and other senior officers interacted with police officers and heard their grievances.
A small delegation of about seven employees led by Vashistha also met the commissioner after mutual interaction to present their demands.
“We gave our demands to the police commissioner. He gave us the meeting we asked for. But as we expected, not many people got a chance to speak openly. Still, we conveyed our demands to him and they are being discussed. Some issues need to be resolved today. We had a total of five demands,” Vasishtha said after the meeting, according to PTI.
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Among the demands raised by the staff were deployment of resistance force in the court premises to maintain law and order and prevent chaos, registration of FIRs if more than five lawyers enter the police station and indulge in hooliganism, and action against lawyers who allegedly misbehave or threaten police personnel even outside police stations.
They also demanded that the Commissioner of Police ensure that the licenses of lawyers caught in such incidents be canceled and that a FIR be filed against the lawyers registered in the Shahdara police station in connection with the incident.
Delhi Police issues statement after ‘Sampark Sabha’
The Delhi Police issued a statement after the meeting, revealing that senior officers and the commissioner had heard the concerns and complaints raised by officers across ranks.
They highlighted issues related to the dignity of the police force, respect for the uniform and the need for a structured mechanism to address their grievances.
“The SC appreciated the professionalism, determination and discipline displayed by the troops, especially the exemplary performance of law and order duties and the successful conduct of the BRICS summit,” the statement said, adding that the commissioner assured them that immediate appropriate action would be taken to address the genuine concerns they have.
The meeting, held with representatives of various Bar Associations and the Delhi Bar Council, resulted in a decision to form a joint coordination committee at the district and police headquarters levels to address the issues that police officers might face in the discharge of their duties, the statement said.
Matters related to promotion, modified assured career progression (MACP), housing and other service-related issues would also receive due attention, he added.
All district and unit heads have been directed to hold regular Sampark Sabhas, communicate directly with staff across ranks and initiate time-bound corrective measures to address their grievances, he added.
