At the Tis Hazari Court complex on November 2, a parking-related argument took place around 2 pm between a cop and some lawyers. According to The Times of India, the row escalated and culminated in violence (and arson as some vehicles were set on fire) with 8 advocates and 20 police officers getting injured.
According to The Indian Express, cops claim the lawyers attacked a sentry from the 3rd battalion while the latter allege that the police officers fired inside court premises. Yesterday, another incident came to light about a cop being allegedly assaulted by lawyers at Saket District Court.
This is utterly shameful. Lawyers targeting, beating up and assaulting a policeman on duty outside Saket Court over what happened in Tees Hazari Court is unfortunate. @CPDelhi @DelhiPolice take strict action against these advocates. pic.twitter.com/Nq3T8M8CaV
— Munish Pandey (@MunishPandeyy) November 4, 2019
The men in Khaki are now protesting against the violence at Delhi police headquarters at ITO with black bands on their arms and placards reading, “How is the Josh? Low, Sir,” “Save the Saviors” and “We are human in police uniforms.”
Delhi police families en route to gathering at Amar Jawan Jyoti (India Gate). Pics via @saurabh3vedi @the_hindu pic.twitter.com/Y3cYwg3pZv
— Nistula Hebbar (@nistula) November 5, 2019
#WATCH Delhi: Police personnel raise slogans of "we want justice" outside the Police Head Quarters (PHQ) in ITO. They are protesting against the clash that broke out between police & lawyers at Tis Hazari Court on 2nd November. pic.twitter.com/XFAbQn2gay
— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2019
Hindustan Times quoted former police commissioner Neeraj Kumar saying,
“There is no rule of law and the police seem redundant. This is a most reprehensible situation and something needs to be done urgently. Also, if one section (advocates) of the society doesn’t bother about the law, all other people will think why should they care about the law.”
News18 quoted a female constable saying,
“People don’t realize the kind of danger we are put through every day. If we can’t save ourselves, then how will we fulfill our responsibility of protecting others? We are human beings too and we must be treated with respect.”
NDTV reports that the protesting officers are unhappy with senior officials and their handling of the clashes. They have a list of 10 demands including the creation of a Police Protection Act.
"The Police force now needs a father. The current commissioner is letting us down. He should have been here."
Delhi Police's local constables demand return of Kiran Bedi.
LIVE: https://t.co/0sU3fwsaQ9 pic.twitter.com/Cj0ResLEAb
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) November 5, 2019
Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has asked the officers to get back to their duties. Lawyers also abstained from work on Monday after which Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra urged them to resume work.
On November 3, the Delhi High Court ordered a judicial probe into the matter after a special hearing. The court transferred two cops, suspended two others and awarded compensation to injured advocates.