Delhi: Mukherjee Nagar on edge over tempo driver’s assault by police personnel

Hundreds of people, mostly Sikhs, gathered outside the Mukherjee Nagar police station on Monday night demanding sacking of the all the policemen involved in the assault of a tempo driver. On Sunday, a group of policemen in Mukherjee Nagar were seen thrashing the tempo driver, identified as Sarabjeet Singh. The video of the incident went viral on social media.

In a video from late Sunday night, an ACP-rank officer could be seen being chased by protestors outside the Mukherjee Nagar police station. He had gone there to pacify the protesters.

A number of people gathered outside the police station in solidarity with Singh and demanded sacking of all the police officers who were involved in the alleged incident. The area where the incident occurred remained tense.

Delhi: People continue to protest in Mukherjee Nagar against the thrashing of auto driver Sarabjeet Singh and his son by Police, yesterday. Heavy security at the spot. pic.twitter.com/rpsjKJ4hWl

— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2019

Three policemen including two assistant sub inspectors have been suspended for their unprofessional conduct in handling the matter, police said. Security has been beefed up in Mukherjee Nagar area, where the incident occurred, as the situation remained tensed.

Cross FIRs have been registered based on the statements of the police personnel and the tempo driver and the case was also transferred to the Crime Branch which will be probed “independently”, police said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) Manish Kumar Agarwal  is separately conducting a detailed inquiry into the matter. The police said the altercation took place after the tempo driver’s vehicle collided with a police van.

In one of the purported videos, the tempo driver was seen chasing the policemen with a sword. In another video, they were seen beating the driver with sticks.

(With PTI inputs)