Delhi Police-Lawyers Clash: Agitating Cops Call Off Protest After Assurance By Top Officers

Delhi policemen, protesting against the Delhi High Court order in connection with a clash between cops and lawyers at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex, ended their stir on Tuesday after top officers assured them that their demands will be fulfilled.

Delhi Police's protesting personnel demanded that the licences of lawyers who assaulted their colleagues be revoked and the transfer of the officers involved in the Tis Hazari clash last week rescinded.

"We also want a police association, provide better treatment to injured policemen, reinstate suspended police personnel. Strict action should be taken against advocates and the FIR," said one of the protesters, reading out the list of demands.

Demanding strict action against the lawyers, the police personnel also want an FIR to be registered against every lawyer involved in the Tis Hazari case.

They also want FIRs filed against the policemen by the lawyers in connection with the Tis Hazari case to be quashed.

The protesting police personnel demanded that Delhi Police challenge the Delhi High Court order in the Supreme Court against the suspension order of senior policemen Special Commissioner of Police Sanjay Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (north) Harinder Singh.

On Sunday, the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Police commissioner to transfer the two senior officers during pendency of the investigation.

An assistant sub inspector was also suspended and another transferred for alleged involvement in the clash. 

In a fresh appeal, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police (Crime) Satish Golcha had urged protesting policemen to end stir and resume duty, while assuring them a review petition will be filed against the Delhi High Court order in connection with a clash between cops and lawyers at the Tis Hazari Courts Complex.

Addressing the protesting policemen, Golcha said the injured policemen will get an ex-gratia of at least Rs 25,000. He urged policemen to end stir and resume duties.

Earlier in the day, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal also reviewed the situation in the wake of an unprecedented protest by Delhi Police personnel.

According to a statement issued by the LG office, Special Commissioner (intelligence) Praveer Ranjan briefed the lieutenant governor about the prevailing situation and also on related high court orders.

The LG observed that advocates and the police are important pillars of criminal justice system and they should work in complete harmony, it said. 

"In the wake of the recent unfortunate incident, it is imperative to restore the trust between the two and also to ensure that justice is done impartially in the entire matter," the statement quoted Baijal as saying.

Thousands of police personnel protested outside the Police Headquarters on Tuesday demanding action against those involved in an attack on their colleague outside the Saket court.

The protests were triggered by two attacks on their colleagues, one on Monday and another on Saturday after a parking dispute between an on-duty policeman and a lawyer which led to at least 20 security personnel and several advocates being injured. 

(With PTI inputs)