Protesting Cops Unimpressed With Amulya Patnaik's Assurance, Demand Kiran Bedi As Delhi Police Commissioner

On Monday, a policeman on a motorbike was assaulted by a group of lawyers outside Saket court. The visuals of the cop being roughed up went viral on social media .

New Delhi: Hundreds of Delhi Police personnel on Tuesday held a massive protest outside the Police Headquarters (PHQ) at ITO here to protest against repeated incidents of violence against them by lawyers. Holding placards and donning civil clothes, the policemen demanded justice and intervention of city police commissioner Amulya Patnaik in the matter. As the protest swelled up leading to traffic jams, Patnaik addressed the policemen assuring them of legal action against the advocates who attacked the men in khaki. He appealed the policemen to get back to their duty points and act as a disciplined force. Calling the Saket court incident a "stray one", Patnaik said it should be generalised as cops chanted "Police Commissioner kaisa ho, Kiran Bedi jaisa ho". "The last few days have been testing for us. A judicial inquiry is underway and I request you to have faith in the process," he told the gathering.

Yeh humare liye parikshha,apekshaaurpratiksha ki ghadi hai. Legal action will be taken on recent incidents. The Saket court incident is a stray incident&shouldn't be generalised.Need to act as a disciplined force.Request you to go back to your duty points: Amulya Patnaik,Delhi PC pic.twitter.com/1EgPaQeoSn

— ABP News (@ABPNews) November 5, 2019

"We are also humans and also have rights. We can't be assaulted like this in courts and want our grievances to be heard. If we are ourselves are unsafe then how can we save citizens," a female police officer told ABP News at the protest site. The jawans are also miffed over the late response of their seniors as they pointed out the unity displayed by various bar associations in the city and neighbouring states. CM Arvind Kejriwal also met the injured lawyers and condemned the firing on them. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of police (DCP) Eish Singhal met the agitating policemen and tried to pacify them saying their "issues will be addressed and legal action will be taken against those indulged in violence". A parking row between between police personnel and lawyers on Saturday led to violence and arson at the Tis Hazari Court complex. At least 20 police personnel and several advocates were injured and many vehicles were torched in the incident. The lawyers alleged that the police fired at them and their reaction came in self-defence. The Delhi High Court on Sunday ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence by a team comprising a retired judge, Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Intelligence Bureau and Vigilance. On the Delhi High Court's order, Special Commissioner (in-charge Law and Order) Sanjay Singh was removed on Monday and Special Commissioner R.S. Krishnaiya was given the additional charge. On Monday, a policeman on a motorbike was assaulted by a group of lawyers outside Saket court. The visuals of the cop being roughed up went viral on social media . Lawyers at the six district courts in the national capital - Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Saket, Dwarka, Rohini and Patiala House -- boycotted work on Monday. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has submitted a report to the Home Ministry about the incidents that have transpired in the last few days and on the prevailing situation in the city. Congress' Randeep Surjewala termed the incident as a "new low" in the country's history and questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah's silence on the matter. "A new low in 72 years - Police on protest in ‘National Capital of Delhi’.Is this BJP’s ‘New India’? Where will BJP take the country? Where is India’s HM, Sh. Amit Shah?" he wrote on Twitter.

A new low in 72 years - Police on protest in ‘National Capital of Delhi’.

Is this BJP’s ‘New India’? Where will BJP take the country? Where is India’s HM, Sh. Amit Shah? मोदी है तो ही ये मुमकिन है!!! pic.twitter.com/6irmEZ7Zam — Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 5, 2019