Delhi Police thrashes tempo driver, minor son; 3 cops suspended
A violent clash broke out between Delhi Police officers and Gramin Seva driver in Mukherjee Nagar area on Sunday. In visuals of the incident, which went viral on social media, the police can be seen brutally assaulting the tempo driver and his minor son. The driver, identified as Sarabjeet Singh, also retaliated and attacked the policemen with a sword. Here's all that happened.
Clash erupted after a road accident involving Singh, the police
On Sunday, Singh's Gramin Seva tempo brushed past a police Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV), Vijayanta Arya, DCP (North West) told The Hindu. An argument followed between Singh and an ASI which turned violent. A video shows a policeman dragging Singh's son from the tempo while another hits him with a lathi. Policemen also struck lathis at Singh, who attacked cops with a sword.
AAP Social Media and IT strategist Ankit Lal tweeted video
In another video, cops seen thrashing Singh's minor son
'The tempo was driven dangerously,' a police statement reads
"The alleged incident was followed by an accident caused by a Gramin Sewa tempo to a police vehicle. Thereafter, a police officer was also assaulted on the head by the tempo driver with a sword," a police statement read. "The tempo was driven dangerously and caused injuries to a policeman in the leg," the statement read, adding that an inquiry is being conducted.
Beaten up inside the police station as well: Driver's son
Speaking to The Indian Express, the driver's son revealed further details of police brutality, saying, "We were beaten up inside the police station as well." He added, "They dragged my father up the stairs and beat him up. They also hit me."
Highly condemnable and unjustified, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal deemed the incident "highly condemnable and unjustified" and demanded an impartial probe into the matter. "Protectors of citizens can't be allowed to turn into uncontrolled violent mobsters," he tweeted. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the police "acted like organized goons or lynch men." AAP MLA Jagdeep Singh said Delhi Police doesn't have "constitutional rights to behave like this."
Delhi CM's tweet about the Sunday evening clash
Sikhs held a protest at Mukherjee Nagar police station
As videos filmed by several onlookers went viral, Sikhs came out on the streets, gathering outside the Mukherjee Nagar police station, to protest against the incident. Former Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president Manjit Singh condemned the incident, while BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, claimed the police insulted the driver's turban. Sirsa, a Shiromani Akali Dal member, also joined the protests.
Video footage from Sunday night protests at Mukherjee Nagar
Three policemen suspended; Tempo driver also booked
Three policemen- identified as Assistant Sub-inspectors Sanjay Malik and Devendra and Constable Pushpendra- were suspended with immediate effect on Sunday in connection with the incident. The driver has also been booked under sections of the penal code pertaining to attempt to murder and attacking a public servant on duty, The Hindu reported. A probe investigating the role of policemen is also underway.
