Political Tensions Rise as Delhi Police Arrest Youth Congress Leaders in Himachal
Overview of the Incident
On Wednesday morning, a team from the Delhi Police's Special Cell, consisting of approximately 15-20 plainclothes officers, arrived at a resort in the Chidgaon area of Rohru subdivision, Shimla district. They apprehended three Youth Congress officials—Saurabh Singh from Uttar Pradesh, Arbaaz Khan from Uttar Pradesh, and Siddharth Avadhut from Madhya Pradesh—on allegations of protesting during an AI summit. The police also confiscated the hotel's CCTV DVR and guest register.
The Himachal Police intervened, asserting that the Delhi Police acted without notifying local authorities and bypassed necessary procedures, such as obtaining a transit remand. They labeled the actions as illegal and akin to kidnapping. Following a complaint from the hotel owner, an FIR was filed at the Chidgaon police station, accusing the Delhi officers of charges including kidnapping, unlawful entry, wrongful detention, and theft under various sections of the law.
As the Delhi Police attempted to transport the three activists back to Delhi, they were halted twice by the Himachal Police, first in Solan and then at the Shoghi barrier on NH-5 near Shimla. The Delhi team was detained for several hours, leading to a heated debate and the situation escalated to the courts, where a hearing on the transit remand took place.
Late at night, the court approved the transit remand; however, the Himachal Police demanded an investigation based on the FIR. After an intense 18-24 hour standoff, the Delhi Police team finally departed for Delhi with the three accused on Thursday morning, with the next hearing scheduled to take place in Delhi.
Political Implications
This incident exemplifies a rare clash between the police forces of two states, highlighting disputes over procedural rules regarding inter-state arrests. The Himachal Police, operating in a Congress-ruled state, criticized the Delhi Police's actions as unlawful, while the latter defended their arrests as legitimate.
The situation has also taken on a political dimension, as the Youth Congress members were protesting against the central government.