New Delhi: Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police Manasvi Vashishta, who led a protest outside Delhi Police Headquarters on Monday, has been suspended.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended the ACP with immediate effect following Monday’s demonstration outside the Delhi Police Headquarters. The action comes amid the ongoing row between police and lawyers over the Shahdara Police Station incident, a scuffle between Delhi Police officers and lawyers on 23 October that sparked subsequent protests by both parties.
Vashista is a Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Police) Service, or DANIPS, cadre police officer who was earlier posted as the ACP Gandhi Nagar before his transfer to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWC).
High drama unfolded outside the Delhi Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Man Singh Road on Monday as nearly 80 police officers led by ACP Vashista held a protest against their own seniors. “If we are not safe inside the police stations, how can we ensure the safety of others?” said ACP Manasvi Vashista, leading the protest.
“We are a disciplined force and a demonstration of this nature is looked down upon. The Delhi Police has enough grievance redress mechanisms and the ACP and other police officers should have accessed that,” a senior officer told ThePrint.
The protest came in the light of two transfers after an alleged altercation at the Shahdara Police Station. The matter dates back to October 23, when an advocate alleged that he suffered a serious head injury in a scuffle at Shahdara Police Station. The legal fraternity was assured that the accused would be arrested, but the next day they were informed that the accused had been released without any action. The lawyers had further alleged that during a meeting with senior police officers, one of them also “waved his loaded revolver” and “threatened” them.
The district lawyers then called an indefinite strike against police inaction. Three days later, Manasvi Vashistha, ACP (Gandhi Nagar subdivision), and Arun Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of Shahdara Police Station were transferred to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children and the Security division respectively. It was only after the transfers that the district court lawyers called off the protest.
Following the transfers, Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar met senior officers and members of the Bar Council to discuss the incident and establish better coordination between them. It was around then that a message asking police officers to gather outside the PHQ began floating.
According to police sources, a senior officer had spoken to the ACP and other protesting police officers and assured that they will be heard. However, the ACP after stepping out from PHQ gave the commissioner a one-and-half-hour deadline to act upon some of their demands.
After the Monday protest, the commissioner organised a Sampark Sabha at PHQ where he heard the grievances of the demonstrators. “The CP, Delhi assured them that prompt and appropriate actions will be taken to address their genuine concerns systematically to reinforce the morale of the force and uphold the dignity and honour of the police uniform,” a statement issued by Delhi Police read.
The statement added that during the meeting with various bar associations and councils of Delhi, it has been decided to constitute a Joint Coordination Committee with their representatives at District and PHQ level to address issues arising in the discharge of official duties by police officials.
“Matters relating to promotions, Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP), housing and other service-related issues will also receive due attention,” the statement read.
It added that all district and unit heads have been directed to hold regular Sampark Sabhas at their respective levels, ensure direct interaction with police personnel across all ranks, promptly examine their grievances and initiate time-bound remedial action. “Senior officers shall personally monitor the resolution of grievances and ensure that no genuine concern remains unaddressed,” it said.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)
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