Around 80 Delhi police staff gather to protest transfer of two officers

Around 80 Delhi police personnel gathered outside Gate No. 1 of the Police Headquarters on Monday to protest the transfer of two officers. DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma arrived shortly after the crowd formed and spoke with ACP Manasvi Vashistha, one of the transferred officers, urging him not to stage a protest and reminding the group to maintain police discipline. Sharma asked some members to come inside the PHQ but none complied. Protesters also demanded a Sampark Sabha with the Commissioner, but no senior official left the building to address them.

Background

ACP Vashistha, posted in the Gandhi Nagar subdivision, and Inspector Arun Kumar of Shahdara police station were transferred after an incident on October 23 at Shahdara station where an advocate suffered a serious head injury during a scuffle. The injury sparked an indefinite strike by district court lawyers, who called off the strike on October 28 after the transfer orders were issued. WhatsApp messages circulated within the Delhi Police urging staff to assemble outside the headquarters to support the transferred officers and seek restoration of their posts. District DCPs and unit heads were instructed to prevent personnel from reaching the PHQ for the planned protest.

Upcoming Interaction

The protest comes a day before Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu’s interaction programme with Delhi Police personnel scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, at Utsav Sadan, Kingsway Camp, 4 pm, involving staff from constable to inspector.

Context

Internal protests over officer transfers are rare in Indian police forces, and the incident highlights tensions between rank‑and‑file personnel and senior command during disciplinary actions.