New Delhi, 02 November (H.S.): #Delhi Police personnel staged a protest outside the force’s headquarters on Monday against the transfers of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashistha and Shahdara police station Station House Officer (SHO) Arun Kumar following a confrontation with lawyers at the police station.

The protest was triggered by the transfer orders issued after a clash between police personnel and lawyers at Shahdara police station. The two officers were transferred on October 28, prompting discontent among a section of the police force.

ACP Manasvi Vashistha met Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar in connection with the matter and said the concerns and demands of the protesting personnel had been placed before him. However, Vashistha observed that far fewer people than expected had been given an opportunity to express their views directly. The demands had been communicated to the Commissioner and discussions were underway, the ACP said.

Before the meeting, police personnel had remained gathered outside the headquarters for more than three hours, seeking an opportunity to meet the Commissioner.

The controversy dates back to October 23, when a confrontation at Shahdara police station allegedly left advocate Lalit Bansal with serious head injuries. An FIR was registered at the police station in connection with the incident.

Later that evening, several lawyers visited the police station demanding action against those allegedly involved. ACP Vashistha and SHO Arun Kumar reportedly assured them that the accused would be arrested.

However, the lawyers claimed that they learnt the following day that the accused had not been arrested and had allegedly been released. They subsequently returned to the police station to protest against the handling of the case, leading to another confrontation.

The lawyers alleged that the ACP threatened them by displaying a revolver. The police, in turn, accused the lawyers of misbehaving with personnel, obstructing official work and attempting to physically pull the SHO.

Following the confrontation, Delhi Police registered a case against 15-20 lawyers on the basis of a complaint filed by ACP Vashistha.

The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi subsequently convened an emergency meeting and issued a circular demanding the suspension of the ACP, the SHO and other officials concerned pending an inquiry. Lawyers across Delhi's district courts then abstained from judicial work.

On October 28, ACP Manasvi Vashistha was transferred from the post of Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Gandhi Nagar subdivision in Shahdara, to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC). SHO Arun Kumar was transferred from Shahdara police station to the Delhi Police Security unit.

Following a meeting involving police officials, representatives of the Bar Council of Delhi and leaders of various bar associations, the lawyers called off their indefinite strike.

On Monday, around 80-100 Delhi Police personnel gathered outside Gate No. 1 of the Police Headquarters for more than three hours. Carrying placards, some of which referred to former police officers such as Kiran Bedi, they demanded a meeting with the Police Commissioner and sought a resolution, including the reinstatement of the transferred officers to their previous postings.

Senior police officials urged the personnel to maintain discipline and reminded them that members of the police force were expected to follow established standards of conduct rather than behave like protesters. The gathering eventually moved inside the headquarters, where the personnel met the Police Commissioner.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar