A tense round-the-clock standoff between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police over the custody of three Youth Congress activists after the shirtless protest at the AI Summit ended on Thursday morning after the visiting team was finally allowed to proceed to the national capital. Shilma police opposed the arrests, claiming that the arrests were illegal, and the episode included repeated arrests, registration of a kidnap case against Delhi Police personnel, detention of officers and vehicles and a midnight hearing for remand.
Here’s how the police-police standoff unfolded in Himachal Pradesh as police officials under the Congress government opposed the arrests of Youth Congress activists.
- Delhi Police in Shimla: Three suspects in the shirtless protest at the AI Summit – Saurabh, Arbaaz and Siddharth – fled Delhi and checked into a resort in Shimla district. Special cell teams of Delhi Police arrived in Himachal Pradesh to track down the suspects.
- Resort Arrests: Early on Wednesday morning, a Delhi Police team comprising 15 to 20 men in plain clothes raided the resort in Rohru, detained them and took them away in their vehicle. It is alleged that they seized the resort’s CCTV DVR without providing a memo or receipt.
- Kidnapping case filed: The resort’s management filed a complaint with the Shimla police, alleging that unknown men had “kidnapped” their guests. Shimla police have registered an FIR for kidnapping.
- Delhi Police convoy stopped: Himachal Police intercept Delhi Police convoy on NH-5 at Shoghi border near Shimla and Solan. About 20 personnel from Delhi have been detained for questioning.
- Heated deadlock followed: Shimla police claimed that the arrest was illegal due to lack of local notice and remand. Delhi Police claims they have 24 hours to produce the suspects before the court. Their vehicles were stopped
- Transit reservation granted: As the day progressed, the case was moved to the court of the Additional Chief Judge. The three accused underwent medical examinations at a hospital in Shimla late on Wednesday evening. At 1.30 am on Thursday, the court granted a remand notice to Delhi Police, giving them 18 hours to transport the suspects to the national capital.
- The second impasse: Delhi Police resumed their journey but were stopped again at Kanlog in Shimla city. The Shimla police demanded that only three constables accompany the suspects while the rest remain behind for the kidnapping investigation.
At 04:00 the convoy was stopped again at the Shoghi border. Shimla police barricade a Delhi Police vehicle and demand its keys and seized DVR evidence.
- 24-hour showdown ended: After hours of standoff, Delhi Police shared a copy of the seizure memo containing the digital evidence but refused to hand over the physical DVR or vehicle. The Delhi Police was cleared to leave for Delhi while the suspects and Shimla police dispersed from the border.
– Ends
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