Delhi ACP Manasvi Vashishtha Suspended A Day After Leading Police Personnel’s Protest
Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishtha has been suspended following his protest outside the Delhi Police Headquarters today with the police officers. The demonstration was observed on Monday when two police officers were transferred after a clash between officers and lawyers at Shahdara police station.
The suspension came as an official order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday, November 3, due to disciplinary reasons, reports said.
About 500 cops allegedly rallied outside of Delhi Police headquarters on Jai Singh Road in the city to meet Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar. The Delhi Police called the assembly a ‘Sampark Sabha’ that discussed the grievances of the police personnel.
What was the reason for the police personnel’s protest?
The protest came in response to the transfer of ACP Vashishtha and Shahdara Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar on October 28. Vashishtha was earlier posted in the subdivision of Gandhi Nagar and Kumar in the Security Unit, but now they have been shifted to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC).
The transfers were made following a clash between police officers and lawyers at the Shahdara police station on October 23. Lalit Bansal, an advocate, was reportedly badly injured on his head in the incident.
Lawyers had said that Vashishtha and Kumar indulged in misbehaviour with the advocates who came to the police station to demand action in the case. They also charged the ACP of showing his service pistol when he was confronted. Vashishtha denied the allegation and said he was checking the ammunition in his weapon.
The event led to a strike by lawyers in all the courts across Delhi, which was to be indefinite. The strike was later called off after the two police officers were transferred.
What was the protestors’ demand?
Protesters among the police wanted protection from any intimidation by lawyers in police stations and court buildings. They also called for a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with confrontations involving lawyers.
They demanded the establishment of grievance redressal mechanism, not quashing of the FIR registered on the complaint of Vashishtha and provision of enhanced security to the police officers within the court premises.
Protesters also wanted to have limits on how many attorneys can be in a police officer’s office simultaneously.
The gathering aimed at highlighting their concerns with senior officers and creating a platform to discuss issues that impact the force, Vashishtha said.
Police Commissioner meets with Staff
To listen to the concerns of personnel, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and other high-ranking officers held a ‘Sampark Sabha’ in the Police Headquarters after the demonstration.
The commissioner of the Delhi police had given them the assurance that genuine issues of promotion, accommodation, service conditions and Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) scheme will be taken care of.
The department also announced its plans to establish a Joint Co-ordination Committee with the Bar Council of Delhi and the District Bar Associations. The committee will look into issues faced by police personnel while performing their duties.
The suspension of Vashishtha has come after the ongoing controversy over the Shahdara incident, which earlier spilled over into a clash between police officers and lawyers.