Three days after the discord between the Delhi Police and lawyers refused to settle down, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, IPS finally broke his silence. He addressed the protesters on Tuesday, November 5, assuring a fair probe. Patnaik said that a detailed report has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in this regard.
The Delhi Police Commissioner also requested the police personnel, who had gathered outside the Delhi Police headquarters at ITO, to end their protest. "It is a test for the police force. I appeal to all to maintain peace. We need to fulfill the responsibility of maintaining law and order," Commissioner Amulya Patnaik said.
"It is a test for the police force. I appeal to all to maintain peace. We need to fulfill the responsibility of maintaining law and order," Commissioner Amulya Patnaik said.
What exactly happened at the Tis Hazari Court?
The whole issue started on November 2, when a scuffle broke out between lawyers and the Delhi Police at the Tis Hazari Court Complex in the national capital. It is reported that the matter snowballed after a minor altercation over parking space between the police personnel and lawyers. Which eventually turned into mob-violence and arson outside the court complex.
On one hand, the lawyers allege that the police opened fire at them while on the other hand, around 20 policemen and several lawyers were injured and multiple vehicles were damaged following the scuffle. A day later, the Delhi High Court ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident by a team including a retired judge, Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Intelligence Bureau and Vigilance.
Delhi High Court ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident by a team including a retired judge, Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Intelligence Bureau and Vigilance.
Delhi Police resorts to protest
On Monday (November 4), another on-duty policeman was beaten up by lawyers, this time outside Saket Court and the video of the incident has gone viral on social media. The Special Commissioner (in-charge Law and Order) Sanjay Singh, IPS was removed following Delhi High Court's order and Special Commissioner RS Krishnaiya, IPS was given his charge in addition.
Khakhi going down to the worse. pic.twitter.com/oWaDKWyZdl
— Aslam Khan (@aslam_IPS) November 4, 2019
On Tuesday (November 5), hundreds of Delhi Police personnel gheraoed the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO to protest against repeated incidents of violence against them by lawyers.
IPS, IAS Association in solidarity with Delhi Police
Taking to Twitter, the Indian Police Service Association came out in support of the Delhi police personnel, stating that police officers across India supported their cause. "Incident involving police and 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 and humiliation. Condemn all attempts to break law, by anyone!" read the tweet.
The IAS Association tweets: "We strongly condemn the cowardly action perpetrated against the police personnel at Tis Hazari Court. We stand by our colleagues in their time of distress and hope the culprits are brought to justice soon."
The Tis Hazari violence
A police vehicle was set on fire and eight others were vandalised outside the Tis Hazari Court complex, which is in the neighbourhood in Old Delhi. A huge posse of police and anti-riot vehicles were deployed at the site following the violence. The injured people were rushed to St. Stephen's hospital in Delhi.
Condemned the incident, the Bar Associations of India called for a one-day strike across all district courts in Delhi on November 4. Secretary of Tis Hazari Bar Association Jaiveer Singh Chauhan told news agency PTI that a lawyer's car allegedly hit a police jail van following which an argument broke out between him and the police.
Did you know?
Last protest by Delhi Police took place in March 1967. More than 7,000 Delhi Police personnel had demanded abrogation of police rules of 1934, allotment of family quarters and an 8 hours shift. Agitation had continued for weeks.
