Top cop, Spl Cell chief lock horns over transfer of ‘encounter’ officers
Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi and Special Commissioner of Police of (Special Cell) SN Shrivastava are at loggerheads over transfer of officials and setting up three separate enquiries into the alleged shootout of cheater Manoj Vashisht inside the south Indian food chain Sagar Ratna. Special Cell is an elite unit specialised in combating anti-terror activities in the national Capital. But the unit whose officials have remained in the category of ‘supercop’ in busting the hardcore gangs and zeroing in on the terrorists are now facing ‘questions’ over the shootout.
“Whatever has happened was unfortunate but I stand by my team. The truth is there for everyone to see,” SN Shrivastava told The Pioneer. The nine-member team, which gunned down Vashisht on Saturday in a public place, was led by inspector Dharmendra Kumar, who is instrumental in several anti-terror operations. Kumar had also led as a member in Batla House encounter in 2008 in which inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was killed after gun battle with terrorists. He was also a member in an operation in Delhi Haryana border in 2002, where sub-inspector Mehtab was killed from a bullet by criminals.
He also worked with ACP Rajbeer Singh, inspectors Mohan Chand Sharma and Badrish Datt of Special Cell. All three officers, who are not alive, were known for their daring operations in and out of the Delhi. The other members are sub-inspectors Vivek Singh, Bhoop Singh, head constables Anil Rao, Sanjay Pal and constables, Manish, Abdul Ahad Khan, Jitendra and Mohit. Shrivatstava said the transfer of Kumar and his team members might be for a ‘fair’ probe into the case. “I was the one who went to the spot soon after the incident,” he said.
The CCTV footage, which was collected from inside the restaurant, showed that Kumar placing his hand on Vashisht’s shoulder. On this, both the people led into a muscle fight, which was joined by another sub-inspector Bhoop Singh. In the melee, two fires were shot and Vashisht fell and later died. The patchy footage does not establish Delhi Police’s claim that Vashisht had first fired shots and police retaliated. The 29-second clip, which is quite grainy, shows two policemen in plainclothes walking up to Vashisht at 8.15 pm in Sagar Ratna restaurant in New Rajender Nagar area. Vashisht is seen sitting in the middle of the restaurant with several people.