Personnel of Delhi police hit the streets outside the city police headquarters ITO today protesting against the hooliganism unleashed by lawyers in the last few days. They were wearing a black band on their arms to condemn the attacks on their ranks. The protests come a day after a policeman was assaulted by a group of lawyers near Saket district court in Delhi. A video of the assault had gone viral in which the lawyers can be seen raining blows on the policeman.
Last week, a row over parking dispute devolved into a violent altercation between lawyers and policemen at Tis Hazari court. A police car was set ablaze and 20 more vehicles were vandalised during the clashes. 2 Cops were suspended by the Delhi High Court and a judicial probe was ordered.
The Delhi Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik addressed the police personnel protesting at the Police Head Quarters (PHQ) in ITO saying, “Some of the incidents in the last few days in the country’s capital have been handled very well by the forces. The situation is gradually improving. I appeal to all to maintain peace. It’s testing time for us. We need to fulfil the responsibility of maintaining and assuring law and order. We are guardians of law and people expect us to assure law and order in the capital.”
Several IAS officers took to Twitter to condemn the continued attack on policemen. Former DGP of Jammu and Kashmir, Shesh Paul Vaid tweeted that he is saddened to see the plight of policemen who spend their entire lives protecting civil society and maintaining law and order are treated such inhumanly.
Saddened to see such treatment meted out to Police officers who spend their entire lives protecting civil society and maintaining law & order @DelhiPolice https://t.co/RPyQplVcmO
— Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) November 5, 2019
Karnataka officer, D Roopa tweeted that the repeated attack on police officers is a mockery of the system and wished that strictest action should be taken against the hooligans who take the law into their hands.
Mockery of the system. I only wish people at helm of affairs take strictest action. Else morale of the force suffers n will embolden hooligans to take law into their hands. https://t.co/Dz5Jnpuclw
— D Roopa IPS (@D_Roopa_IPS) November 4, 2019
DGP Andaman and Nicobar Island, Dependra Pathak slammed lawyers saying that they are lumpen elements in the garb of Black Coat who pose a threat to social orderliness in Delhi. He further said that fear must be instilled among these mischief mongers.
Lumpen elements in the garb of Black Coat are on total rampage endangering social orderliness in Delhi. Fear of law need to be instilled among these mischief mongers.@DelhiPolice need to interpose pending Police-Lawyer clash cases.
— Dependra Pathak (@Dependra_Pathak) November 4, 2019
Even the IPS association issued a tweet denouncing the treatment meted out to police officers in Delhi. Condemning the attacks on police, it declared that it stands in solidarity with the police personnel subjected to physical assault and humiliation.
Incident involving police & lawyers unfortunate. All should take a balanced view of it based on facts in public domain. Countrywide, police stands in solidarity with those police personnel subjected to physical assault & humiliation. Condemn all attempts to break law, by anyone!
— IPS Association (@IPS_Association) November 4, 2019
According to the Home Ministry sources, Lieutenant Governor has been entrusted with the responsibility of diffusing the situation as the ITO, where Delhi police headquarters is located, has come to an absolute standstill amidst unprecedented protest staged by the police officers against the hostile behaviour of the lawyers.
