Shirtless protest: Delhi, Himachal Pradesh Police standoff over 3 arrested Youth Congress activists
What should have been a procedural arrest has turned into a major jurisdictional flash point. Delhi police officials in plain clothes picked up three Youth Congress activists, in connection with the ‘shirtless’ protest during the India AI summit at Bharat Mandapam, from a resort in Shimla, triggering an FIR by Himachal Pradesh police alleging abduction and procedural violations.
The high-voltage drama, which saw vehicles detained, an FIR registered, and officers questioned on procedure, has triggered a rare public face-off between the Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police over the manner of arrest and seizure of CCTV footage from a private resort in Rohru.
The confrontation saw the Delhi Police team stopped multiple times by Shimla Police despite securing a transit remand from a local court. The confrontation between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police lasted nearly 24 hours before ending early Thursday, when the Delhi team was finally allowed to leave with three Youth Congress activists.
After medical examinations at Deendyal Upadhyay Zonal Hospital late Wednesday night, the three accused and Delhi Police personnel were taken to the residence of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM II) Ekansh Kapil at around 1.30 am. The court granted transit remand, clearing their movement to Delhi. But early Thursday morning, Shimla Police again intercepted the convoy in the city and told some officers to stay back and cooperate in a kidnapping case registered against the Delhi Police team.
The Shimla Police told the Delhi Police that only three of its personnel can move the accused back to the national capital, while the rest would have to stay in Shimla to help in the investigation over the kidnapping case registered against them.
Delhi Police refused, saying the safety of the accused was their responsibility. The convoy was then stopped again at the Shoghi border around 4 am. Shimla Police barricaded one of the Delhi Police vehicles, saying it contained CCTV footage and other digital evidence linked to the case. During the standoff, the Shimla police sought the keys to the barricaded vehicle, but the Delhi Police refused to hand them over.
