Photos: Delhi cops protest over handling of clashes with lawyers

By HT Correspondent

Updated On Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

Thousands of police personnel protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday in an unprecedented public demonstration of anger over an assault on members of the force by lawyers after a violent clash on the weekend, and to express their resentment at senior officers for not rising to their support. The protest, which began at 8am at an arterial road adjacent to the HQ, was called off at 8pm after repeated assurances by top officials, including police commissioner Amulya Patnaik.

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A Delhi Police personnel is seen blindfolded during a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters, at ITO, in New Delhi. Thousands of police personnel protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday in an unprecedented public demonstration of anger over an assault on members of the force by lawyers after a violent clash on the weekend, and to express their resentment at senior officers for not rising to their support. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

A Delhi Police personnel is seen blindfolded during a protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters, at ITO, in New Delhi. Thousands of police personnel protested outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday in an unprecedented public demonstration of anger over an assault on members of the force by lawyers after a violent clash on the weekend, and to express their resentment at senior officers for not rising to their support. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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The protest, which began at 8am at an arterial road adjacent to the HQ, was called off at 8pm after repeated assurances by top officials, including police commissioner Amulya Patnaik, that their key demands related to the assault by lawyers were being met. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

The protest, which began at 8am at an arterial road adjacent to the HQ, was called off at 8pm after repeated assurances by top officials, including police commissioner Amulya Patnaik, that their key demands related to the assault by lawyers were being met. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Wearing black armbands and waving placards, the policemen and women, of the rank of constable, head constable, assistant sub-inspector, sub-inspector and inspector, marched on their HQ, located in the Income Tax Office (ITO) area in central Delhi, where the number of protesters eventually swelled to about 3,000, according to eyewitness accounts. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

Wearing black armbands and waving placards, the policemen and women, of the rank of constable, head constable, assistant sub-inspector, sub-inspector and inspector, marched on their HQ, located in the Income Tax Office (ITO) area in central Delhi, where the number of protesters eventually swelled to about 3,000, according to eyewitness accounts. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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During the day, they did not heed repeated appeals by the police commissioner to go back to work, staying on at the venue until after dusk, dispersing only at 8pm. Some of the protesters were accompanied by their families. As night fell, scores marched on to India Gate, the World War I memorial in the city’s central vista. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

During the day, they did not heed repeated appeals by the police commissioner to go back to work, staying on at the venue until after dusk, dispersing only at 8pm. Some of the protesters were accompanied by their families. As night fell, scores marched on to India Gate, the World War I memorial in the city’s central vista. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

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Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Patnaik addresses the media. “We have to behave like a disciplined force. The government and the people expect us to uphold the law, it is our big responsibility. I urge you to resume duty,” he told the protesting police personnel, some of whom were in their uniforms sans their nameplates. “The last few days have been testing for us. A judicial inquiry is underway and I request you to have faith in the process.” (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Patnaik addresses the media. “We have to behave like a disciplined force. The government and the people expect us to uphold the law, it is our big responsibility. I urge you to resume duty,” he told the protesting police personnel, some of whom were in their uniforms sans their nameplates. “The last few days have been testing for us. A judicial inquiry is underway and I request you to have faith in the process.” (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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“How is the Josh? Low, Sir,” read the slogan on one placard, a take-off on a dialogue in the movie Uri, based on the 2016 surgical strikes carried out by Indian soldiers across the Line of Control in Pakistan. The answer in the movie is “high, sir.” “We are human in police uniforms”, “We are not punching bags” and “Protectors Need Protection,” read some of the other slogans. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

“How is the Josh? Low, Sir,” read the slogan on one placard, a take-off on a dialogue in the movie Uri, based on the 2016 surgical strikes carried out by Indian soldiers across the Line of Control in Pakistan. The answer in the movie is “high, sir.” “We are human in police uniforms”, “We are not punching bags” and “Protectors Need Protection,” read some of the other slogans. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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The protest came three days after a dispute over a lawyer parking his car near the police lock-up in Tis Hazari court complex in north Delhi turned into a violent clash between the police and lawyers. As per police records, the clash left 21 policemen and eight lawyers injured. On Monday, lawyers chased and attacked policemen, journalists and civilians in and around the district courts in south Delhi’s Saket. A video showed lawyers slapping and elbowing a policeman and vandalising police property. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

The protest came three days after a dispute over a lawyer parking his car near the police lock-up in Tis Hazari court complex in north Delhi turned into a violent clash between the police and lawyers. As per police records, the clash left 21 policemen and eight lawyers injured. On Monday, lawyers chased and attacked policemen, journalists and civilians in and around the district courts in south Delhi’s Saket. A video showed lawyers slapping and elbowing a policeman and vandalising police property. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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“We need you”read a placard with a photo of former top cop Kiran Bedi at the protest by police personnel outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday. The demand hasits roots in an episode, during Bedi’s tenure as DCP (north) in 1988, which was quite similar to one that triggered Tuesday’s agitation. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

“We need you”read a placard with a photo of former top cop Kiran Bedi at the protest by police personnel outside the Delhi Police headquarters on Tuesday. The demand hasits roots in an episode, during Bedi’s tenure as DCP (north) in 1988, which was quite similar to one that triggered Tuesday’s agitation. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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On January 15, 1988, a man was arrested from a woman’s washroom at St. Stephen’s College. SBS Tyagi, an officer serving under Bedi, said, “The man was held for theft on a woman’s complaint. He did not tell anyone that he was a lawyer. The following day, when our officers were producing the man in the court in handcuffs, the other lawyers recognised him and started protesting. The magistrate discharged him. That was the beginning of the problem.” (HT Archive)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

On January 15, 1988, a man was arrested from a woman’s washroom at St. Stephen’s College. SBS Tyagi, an officer serving under Bedi, said, “The man was held for theft on a woman’s complaint. He did not tell anyone that he was a lawyer. The following day, when our officers were producing the man in the court in handcuffs, the other lawyers recognised him and started protesting. The magistrate discharged him. That was the beginning of the problem.” (HT Archive)

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Next week a group of lawyers wanted to meet Bedi, who was in a meeting for Republic Day preparations and so asked them to wait outside her office. But the angry lawyers started breaking flower pots which led to a clash between the policemen and the protesting lawyers, forcing the cops to lathi charge. Then on February 17, a group of about 3,000 people attacked the advocates and damaged their properties. The lawyers blamed Bedi as being responsible for both incidents. (HT Archive)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

Next week a group of lawyers wanted to meet Bedi, who was in a meeting for Republic Day preparations and so asked them to wait outside her office. But the angry lawyers started breaking flower pots which led to a clash between the policemen and the protesting lawyers, forcing the cops to lathi charge. Then on February 17, a group of about 3,000 people attacked the advocates and damaged their properties. The lawyers blamed Bedi as being responsible for both incidents. (HT Archive)

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On Sunday, the Delhi High Court took up the recent clash, and ordered the transfer of two senior police officers, the suspension of two other officers and compensation to the injured lawyers. No similar action against the lawyers was ordered and no compensation offered to the injured policemen. “The videos were evident but the court did not pass any order against lawyers,” one of the protesting officers said. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

On Sunday, the Delhi High Court took up the recent clash, and ordered the transfer of two senior police officers, the suspension of two other officers and compensation to the injured lawyers. No similar action against the lawyers was ordered and no compensation offered to the injured policemen. “The videos were evident but the court did not pass any order against lawyers,” one of the protesting officers said. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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The protest at police headquarters was peaceful. A message shared by the police to call their colleagues to gather outside the protest venue read: “Our silent gathering is supposed to make more effect and it will empower our seniors but any protest, violence, misbehaviour or anything wrong will not only malign our image in public but also supposed to create a problem for seniors”. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

The protest at police headquarters was peaceful. A message shared by the police to call their colleagues to gather outside the protest venue read: “Our silent gathering is supposed to make more effect and it will empower our seniors but any protest, violence, misbehaviour or anything wrong will not only malign our image in public but also supposed to create a problem for seniors”. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

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The Union home ministry on Tuesday received a report from the Delhi Police on the clash. It is a factual report in which Delhi Police has detailed the circumstances leading to Saturday’s clash and the action taken after it, a home ministry official said. The Delhi HC sought the response of Bar Council of India and several bar associations of the city on a plea by the Centre seeking clarification of its earlier order. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

The Union home ministry on Tuesday received a report from the Delhi Police on the clash. It is a factual report in which Delhi Police has detailed the circumstances leading to Saturday’s clash and the action taken after it, a home ministry official said. The Delhi HC sought the response of Bar Council of India and several bar associations of the city on a plea by the Centre seeking clarification of its earlier order. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Lawyers in the city said they would continue their strike at all the district courts, demanding the arrest of the erring police for opening fire at the Tis Hazari court complex. High Court on Wednesday declined Centre’s request to clarify order in the lawyers vs police case, saying it is self-explanatory. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

Updated on Nov 06, 2019 04:21 pm IST

Lawyers in the city said they would continue their strike at all the district courts, demanding the arrest of the erring police for opening fire at the Tis Hazari court complex. High Court on Wednesday declined Centre’s request to clarify order in the lawyers vs police case, saying it is self-explanatory. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

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