MHA suspends Delhi Police ACP after headquarters protest
Assistant Commissioner Manasvi Vashishtha was suspended following a demonstration demanding the reinstatement of two officers transferred after a Shahdara police station confrontation.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) suspended Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner Manasvi Vashishtha on Tuesday following a protest at the force's headquarters. According to Mint, the suspension comes in view of pending departmental proceedings after Vashishtha participated in a demonstration to demand the reinstatement of two officers.
The protest, which took place on Monday, was held in support of Vashistha and Station House Officer (SHO) Arun Kumar. Both officers were transferred following a confrontation between police and lawyers at the Shahdara police station on October 23, during which an advocate sustained a head injury.
Vashistha, a 2019-batch DANIPS officer, was moved from Gandhi Nagar to the Special Police Unit for Women and Children, while Kumar was assigned to the security unit. During the protest, personnel raised slogans and submitted five demands, including action against lawyers involved in the incident and the registration of FIRs against those engaging in hooliganism.
Vashistha told reporters that the demonstration was an "organic call" and that he had requested a platform to present the personnel's views. He stated that the stand was necessary to raise voices against hooliganism and security problems inside police stations.
The MHA suspended Vashistha under Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. The order requires him to remain headquartered in Delhi and prohibits him from leaving the city without prior permission.
Following the protest, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar held a 'Sampark Sabha' to interact with officers. The Delhi Police stated that a Joint Coordination Committee will be formed at district and headquarters levels to address issues faced by personnel while performing their duties.