New Delhi: The Delhi Police Thursday said miscreants had attacked Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence and were identified as BJP workers.
Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Eish Singhal told ThePrint that six of the men who were detained for the attack were part of the Delhi BJP. However, he refuted claims that Sisodia’s residence had been damaged or broken into.
“The six men are workers of the BJP Delhi. On Wednesday, they asked for permission to protest at the Deputy CM’s residence, which we rejected. Around 150 of them started protesting Thursday around 11:30-12 noon. We dispersed the crowd and six have been detained,” Singhal said.
The DCP added that Hukum Singh, who belongs to Delhi BJP, had asked for permission to protest. However, he isn’t among those to have been detained.
“We warned them that they aren’t allowed to do so after which some of them jumped the barricade and entered Manish Sisodia’s residence-cum-camp office. Rest of them have been dispersed. The detained ones are kept in Mandir Marg Police Station. C. Arvind, secretary to Dy. CM Delhi, lodged a complaint in the evening, and an FIR was registered on the basis of his complaint,” DCP Singhal added.
Earlier in the day, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had said “BJP goons” attacked Sisodia’s house. Sisodia himself as well as AAP leaders Atishi and Raghav Chadha had posted images of dozens of men marching up to the residence and forcing their way past a handful of police personnel.
आज बीजेपी के गुंडे मेरी ग़ैरमौजूदगी में मेरे घर के दरवाज़े तोड़कर अंदर घुस गए और मेरे बीवी बच्चों पर हमला करने की कोशिश की. @AmitShah जी आज आप दिल्ली में राजनीति में हार गए तो अब इस तरह से हमें निपटाएँगे? pic.twitter.com/aDwjz6DR3B
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 10, 2020
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had condemned the incident, calling it a “systematic, organised and violent attack”.
I strongly condemn the systematic, organised and violent attack on Dy CM Sh Manish Sisodia’s home. The goons entered his house in police presence when he was away.
Why is BJP getting so desperate by the day in Delhi?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 10, 2020
DCW steps in, asks police for detailed report
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter.
“The CCTV footage available in the public domain clearly shows a large mob allegedly belonging to a political party attacking the house and easily breaching the security cover, despite the security personnel being present at the residence,” the commission said in a statement.
“It is learnt that Deputy CM’s wife and children were present inside the house at the time of attack. This is a very serious matter. If elected representatives can be attacked in the high security zone this easily, one can only wonder what level of security is available to common citizens,” it added.
The DCW has also asked the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, to provide a detailed report on the circumstances under which the group was allowed to gather outside the residence and bridge the security cover, details of officers responsible for the security lapse and action taken against them, copy of FIR registered in the matter, details of the accused arrested and steps taken to identify the other accused clearly seen in the CCTV footage.
Also read: AAP alleges Arvind Kejriwal put under house arrest, Delhi Police says no such order