Delhi ACP Manasvi Vashishta suspended after leading protest outside police headquarters

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Manasvi Vashishta has been suspended following a protest by Delhi Police personnel outside the force’s headquarters against the transfer of two officers after a confrontation with lawyers in east Delhi’s Shahdara, officials said Tuesday.

The suspension was made a day after nearly 500 police personnel, women and men, assembled outside the force headquarters in New Delhi to demand the reinstatement of Vashishta and Shahdara station house officer Arun Kumar, reports the Hindustan Times.

The demonstration was held after two police officers were transferred on October 28 following lawyers’ allegations that the cops had threatened the advocates who had gone to Shahdara police station seeking action in an assault case involving lawyer Lalit Bansal.

Vashishta said the congregation was an “organic call” made by cops and they wanted the chance to speak to senior officers, ABP Live reported.

Five demands, including action against lawyers who participated in the scuffle, were put to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar by a delegation of protesting employees.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is said to have fumed at the demonstration and deemed it a breach of discipline within the force. An official statement on the suspension was not immediately available.