Delhi Police, who came to Shimla to arrest 3 protesters of AI Summit, clashed with Himachal Police. Himachal Police registered an FIR for taking action without giving information. Later the arrested workers were handed over to Delhi Police.
A strange and high-voltage drama was witnessed in Shimla on Wednesday. Here the police of two states, i.e. Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police, came face to face. The matter escalated so much that Himachal Police registered an FIR against Delhi Police itself. This entire controversy is related to the Global AI Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. A team of Delhi Police had reached Shimla to arrest some members of Youth Congress who were protesting with their shirts off in this summit. But there was a tension between the police of both the states regarding the method of this action, which continued till late night. However, the matter was later resolved.
FIR registered against Delhi Police
Himachal Police has registered an FIR against Delhi Police. Shimla Police alleges that Delhi Police conducted this operation in their area without informing any local officer. According to Himachal Police officials, they received information that 15 to 20 people in plain clothes were forcing some tourists into vehicles. Later it came to light that these were Delhi Police people. It is also alleged that the DVR of the CCTV cameras was also taken away from the Chanshal resort where the accused were staying without any receipt. On the basis of these complaints, Himachal Police registered an FIR against Delhi Police.
How did the whole controversy escalate?
The Delhi Police team reached Rohru, about 120 kilometers from Shimla, in four vehicles. On Wednesday morning, they arrested three Youth Congress workers staying in a hotel in Rohru. These workers have been identified as Arbaaz, Saurav and Siddharth, residents of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. He is accused of participating in the demonstration during the AI Summit in Delhi. Delhi Police says that all three had fled to Himachal to avoid arrest.
When Delhi Police was returning with these three, Shimla Police stopped their convoy by placing barricades at three different places. One train was stopped at ISBT Shimla, the other at Shogi and two at Dharampur in Solan district. Shimla Police took the three Youth Congress workers into their custody and produced them in Shimla circle court. During this time, about 18 Delhi Police personnel also reached the court premises. The accused were produced in the district court at around 4:45 pm and the hearing continued till 6 pm.
Objection to action without notice
During the hearing in the court, Shimla Police argued that Delhi Police made the arrest without giving formal information to the local authorities, which is a wrong procedure. There was a long debate regarding this between the police officers of both the states in the court premises. Later, at around 7:25 pm, Shimla Police handed over the accused to Delhi Police. But, near Shogi, about 6-7 km from the district court, Shimla Police once again stopped the Delhi Police convoy, leading to another altercation between the two sides.
At around 11:15 pm, the arrested Youth Congress workers were taken to Ripon Hospital for medical examination. According to reports, he will be produced in the district court for transit remand on Thursday i.e. today. Police sources say that these three Youth Congress members were involved in the protest during the AI Summit in Delhi and had gone to Rohru in Himachal Pradesh to avoid arrest.