Six police officers, including a former station house officer (SHO), were suspended on Wednesday for allegedly illegally detaining underage suspects at an unoccupied building in northwest Delhi.
A criminal case has been registered against the six officers.
Senior police officers apparently were jolted into action after a photograph of around six juvenile delinquents, allegedly held for their involvement in criminal cases and 'illegally' detained at an abandoned DDA flat complex, was leaked to the media on Tuesday morning.
"An incident of illegal detention of juveniles by officers of the Vijay Vihar police station was aired on news channels on the night of July 9. Subsequently, a prima facie enquiry to verify the veracity of facts was carried out by the area's additional commissioner of police," said a statement by the joint commissioner of the northern range.
During the enquiry, the statement read, statements of some police officers and affected juveniles were recorded and documents related to the matter collected.
The police claimed that complaints in two cases of theft and night burglary, that took place in the area in the month of March earlier this year, were found to have been registered. "The investigating officer of the cases and other police officers were subsequently found to be involved in the above incident," the police conceded.
{{/usCountry}}The police claimed that complaints in two cases of theft and night burglary, that took place in the area in the month of March earlier this year, were found to have been registered. "The investigating officer of the cases and other police officers were subsequently found to be involved in the above incident," the police conceded.
{{/usCountry}}"In this case, six juveniles, one of whom was later found to be an adult, were apprehended by the officers and detained in a vacant DDA flat - known by the name of Lal Quarters - as per the enquiry."
According to police, the facts revealed that the juveniles had been detained to recover the stolen property in both the cases.
A detailed enquiry into the matter has been ordered by the police. Meanwhile, a criminal case has been registered with further investigation to be conducted by the District Investigation Unit (DIU) of the Outer District.
"In the follow up action, the then SHO of Vijay Vihar, the investigating officer of the cases and four constables have been placed under suspension and they all will be dealt with departmentally," the statement added.