Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishtha, who joined and led a protest by police personnel outside the force’s headquarters against the transfer of two officers, has been
suspended, police sources said on Tuesday.
The action comes a day after around 150 Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, assembled outside the Police Headquarters on Jai Singh Road on Monday, demanding the reinstatement of Vashishtha and Shahdara Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Arun Kumar to their previous postings.
What Triggered Protests?
The protest was triggered by the transfer of the two officers following a confrontation between police personnel and lawyers at the Shahdara police station in east Delhi. The transfers had drawn opposition from several police personnel, who sought an opportunity to raise their concerns directly with Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar.
Police sources said Vashishtha’s suspension was linked to his participation in the demonstration. There was no immediate official statement from Delhi Police on the action.
Why Were The Two Officers Transferred?
The controversy traces back to an October 23 incident at Shahdara police station, where advocate Lalit Bansal allegedly suffered a serious head injury during a scuffle.
The incident was followed by a confrontation between lawyers and police personnel at the police station. Lawyers alleged that ACP Vashishtha and SHO Arun Kumar had threatened advocates who approached the police station seeking action against those accused of assaulting Bansal.
The lawyers subsequently called for an indefinite strike, demanding action against the police officers. The agitation was later called off.
On October 28, Delhi Police transferred Vashishtha, who was serving as the sub-divisional police officer in Gandhi Nagar, to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC). Inspector Arun Kumar was shifted from Shahdara police station to the security unit.
The transfers prompted resentment among sections of the police force, eventually leading to Monday’s demonstration.
‘We Need To Meet CP Sir’: Vashishtha
The protesting personnel gathered outside Gate No. 1 of the Police Headquarters, carrying placards and raising slogans such as “vardi ka apmaan nahi sahenge” (we will not tolerate insult to the uniform).
Vashishtha, who joined the demonstration, said the personnel wanted an opportunity to present their concerns before the Police Commissioner and called for a formal mechanism to address such disputes.
“Our demands are clear. We need to meet CP sir. There needs to be an SOP (standard operating procedure) to deal with such matters. If this happens to us, how will we fight to save the people of the city,” Vashistha said amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Police Ekta Zindabad” on Monday.
Describing the demonstration as an “organic call” by police personnel, he said they had formally requested senior officers to provide them with a platform to put forward their concerns.
“We have requested the senior officers to provide us with a platform to present our views and have also submitted a formal application in this regard. We are confident that the senior officers will give us an opportunity to put forward our views. We will speak openly, and a solution to this matter will certainly emerge,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the safety of police personnel at police stations, alleging that some individuals were engaging in hooliganism.
“We have taken a stand because it is necessary to raise our voice against the hooliganism that the police are facing and the security problems arising inside police stations. Some people are engaging in hooliganism; they are not just our enemies but enemies of society as a whole,” he said, adding that if police stations themselves were not safe, no place could be safe.
Five Demands Of Protesting Police Personnel
A delegation of around seven personnel, led by Vashishtha, met Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar after he held a ‘Sampark Sabha’ at the headquarters to hear the grievances of the force.
The delegation submitted five demands, including the reinstatement of the two transferred officers and action against lawyers allegedly involved in the Shahdara police station confrontation.
Among the other demands were:
- Deployment of a resistance force at court premises to maintain law and order and prevent disturbances.
- Registration of FIRs if more than five lawyers enter a police station and engage in hooliganism.
- Action against lawyers accused of misbehaving with or threatening police personnel, including incidents outside police stations.
- Cancellation of licences of lawyers found involved in such incidents.
- Filing of a chargesheet in the FIR registered against lawyers in connection with the Shahdara police station incident.
Speaking after the meeting, Vashishtha said the delegation had conveyed its concerns to the Commissioner, although not everyone who attended the protest got an opportunity to speak.
“We have placed our demands before the police commissioner. He provided us with the meeting that we had requested. However, as we had expected, not many people got the opportunity to speak openly. Nevertheless, we have conveyed our demands to him, and they are being discussed. Some matters need to be resolved today. We had a total of five demands,” he said.
What Did Delhi Police Say After Protest?
In a statement, Delhi Police said the Commissioner and senior officers had heard the concerns raised by personnel from different ranks during the Sampark Sabha.
The grievances primarily concerned the dignity of the force, respect for the uniform and the need for a structured mechanism to address service-related issues.
“The CP appreciated the professionalism, commitment and discipline demonstrated by the force, particularly the exemplary discharge of law and order duties and successful conduct of the BRICS Summit,” the statement said.
The Commissioner assured personnel that their genuine concerns would be addressed through appropriate and timely measures, the statement added.
Delhi Police also said discussions with representatives of various Bar Associations and the Bar Council of Delhi had led to a decision to establish a Joint Coordination Committee at the district and Police Headquarters levels. The proposed panel will address issues arising during the discharge of official duties by police personnel.
The force further said that matters concerning promotions, Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP), housing and other service-related issues would receive attention. District and unit heads have also been directed to hold regular Sampark Sabhas and take time-bound action on personnel grievances.
Meanwhile, the Central Delhi Court Bar Association and other lawyers’ bodies have sought the immediate suspension of ACP Manasvi Vashishtha over her alleged remarks against lawyers.
With inputs from PTI
