Police Clash Over Arrests of Youth Congress Members in Himachal Pradesh
Tension Between Delhi and Himachal Police
A significant confrontation occurred on Thursday between police forces from Delhi and Himachal Pradesh along the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. This incident was linked to the detention of three members of the Indian Youth Congress during a protest at the India AI Impact Summit.
Both police departments accused each other of hindering their respective investigations.
In a move reflecting the political tensions, the Himachal Pradesh police, which is aligned with the Congress party, filed a first information report against several Delhi police officers, alleging that they had kidnapped the youth members.
Reports indicate that the Delhi police team faced multiple obstacles while attempting to transport the arrested individuals back to the capital.
During the protest at the AI summit held on February 20, members of the Indian Youth Congress vocally opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being 'compromised' and displaying placards to that effect.
The Delhi police, under the jurisdiction of the Union home ministry, have initiated legal action against the protesters, citing charges of rioting and inciting discord among groups.
On Wednesday evening, three members of the Indian Youth Congress—Saurabh, Siddharth, and Arbaz—were apprehended at a hotel in Shimla's Chirgaon area. The Delhi police aimed to present them before a local court for a transit remand, but officials from Himachal Pradesh allegedly obstructed this process.
According to an unnamed officer from the Delhi police, they were informed at the court that the necessary staff were unavailable for the legal proceedings. The local police reportedly detained the Delhi officers for several hours, demanding a copy of the FIR and court permission for their actions.
Although the Delhi police were eventually permitted to leave, they were stopped again at the Shoghi police post on the Chandigarh-Shimla highway. An unidentified member of the Delhi police claimed they were informed of kidnapping charges against them and were subsequently detained.
While the Delhi police asserted they had secured a transit remand, their Himachal counterparts contended that no proper documentation was provided, rendering the arrests unlawful. The Himachal authorities claimed that the local police had not been notified prior to the arrests.
Social media videos captured the police personnel engaged in heated discussions and recording each other during the altercation.
The Shimla police reported that a case has been initiated against 15-20 unidentified individuals in plain clothes for forcibly taking the three individuals from a resort in Rohru, along with the resort's CCTV equipment, without providing any receipt.
Naresh Chauhan, the principal media advisor to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, emphasized the importance of following proper procedures when police from one state attempt to arrest individuals in another state.
Chauhan stated, 'We were informed that the Delhi police did not adhere to the required procedures.' An FIR has been filed regarding this matter.
Claims Against Youth Congress Protesters
The Delhi police have alleged that the protest organized by the Youth Congress was part of a broader conspiracy, claiming it was inspired by recent youth-led movements in Nepal. They assert that the demonstration was a premeditated effort to disrupt the high-profile event at Bharat Mandapam.
The five-day India AI Impact Summit was touted as a significant event focusing on artificial intelligence in the Global South, featuring participation from 20 world leaders, technology executives, and exhibitors from 30 nations.