New Delhi: Thousands of police personnel protested outside the Police Headquarters on Tuesday to demand action against those involved in an attack on their colleague outside the Saket court, the unprecedented scenes of police protest leading their chief Amulya Patnaik urging them to resume duty.
Over the ongoing roar Ten News intreacted with the very renowned Dy Advocate General of Supreme Court Manoj Gorkhela. He questioned over the way of working of Delhi Police after the incident as the police didn’t registered an FIR against the police personal who opened fire.
He said “In a normal incident, police immediately registers a FIR and seize weapon used in the crime but in this incident nothing happened like this. So this shows how police tried to influence the case. Second thing is that no one in the country has the right to shoot so how can he shoot the lawyer.”
He further added “Supreme Court lawyer is a post equivalent to a officer rank so a police constable needs to pay respect to the lawyer . And when respect is not given such incident happens.
On how the matter will be resolved he said “I think this will get resolved by mutual understanding of both the parties”.
The tension between police personnel and lawyers had been building up since Saturday when a clash over a parking dispute led to at least 20 security personnel and several advocates being injured.
As surging crowds of protesters gathered outside the Police Headquarters in ITO leading to traffic snarls, Patnaik came out of his office to assure them that their concerns will be addressed.
“We have to behave like a disciplined force. The government and the people expect us to uphold the law, it is our big responsibility. I urge you to resume duty,” Patnaik told the police personnel.
“The last few days have been testing for us. A judicial enquiry is underway and I request you to have faith in the process,” he told the gathering. Cops chanted slogans and were wearing black bands.
The entire top brass of the Delhi police tried to pacify the police personnel who were chanting slogans demanding justice with black bands. Delhi Police has a strength of over 80,000 personnel.
Holding up playcards with slogans such as “We are human in police uniforms”, “We are not punching bags” and “Protectors Need Protection”, the policemen and policewomen urged their seniors to stand with them to save the honour of the uniform.
“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal went to meet injured lawyers but did not meet our policemen who were also injured in the incident. Isn’t it unfair to us,” said a protestor.
The protest caused traffic snarls at several intersections leading to ITO.
Delhi Traffic police took to Twitter to issue traffic advisories.
“Traffic Movement is closed in the carriageway from ITO towards Laxmi Nagar. Motorist are advised to use Delhi Gate & Raj Ghat”.
The immediate provocation for the protest was an on-duty policeman being thrashed by advocates outside the Saket Court on Monday. A video of the incident, showing some men beating up a man in uniform on a bike, was circulated widely on social media.
When the policeman was leaving the spot, a man also hit his bike with his helmet.
The protesters also demanded action against the lawyer who assaulted the cop.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared the video on Twitter saying, “Let’s not take law into our hands. It’s not question of supporting any group”.
Saturday’s clash also led to many vehicles being vandalised or set on fire, according to officials.
