HIGHLIGHTS
• Police claim that two of their men were injured in the attack
• Driver, however, alleged that he was attacked by the cops first
• Arvind Kejriwal condemned the police action on the driver
NEW DELHI: A group of policemen is seen thrashing a driver of a three-wheeler who had pulled out a sword in a dramatic video shot by an eyewitness on a busy street in north-west Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar. The incident happened after the police's vehicle and the three-wheeler met with an accident.
In the video, shot on a mobile phone, the cops are seen confronting the man after his vehicle allegedly ran over the foot of one of their colleagues in Mukherjee Nagar. He then takes out a sword and runs after them.
The police claim that two of their men were injured in the attack. The Gramin Seva driver, however, alleged that he was attacked by the cops first.
The policemen identified as assistant sub-inspectors Sanjay Malik and Devendra, and constable Pushpendra have been suspended, the police said. Delhi Police spokesperson Anil Mittal said the policemen handled the incident in an "unprofessional manner", news agency PTI reported.
Delhi Police comes under the Union Home Ministry.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the police action that he termed as "unjustified". "Delhi Police brutality in Mukherjee Nagar is highly condemnanble and unjustified. I demand an impartial probe into the whole incident & strict action against the guilty. Protectors of citizens can't be allowed to turn into uncontrolled violent mobsters," Mr Kejriwal tweeted.
It is alleged the policemen dragged the Gramin Seva driver and his son out of their auto and thrashed them. In the video, the policemen could be seen dragging he driver's son while one of them hits him with a lathi.
"The alleged incident was followed by an accident caused by a Gramin Sewa tempo to a police vehicle. Thereafter, a police officer was also assaulted on the head by the tempo driver with a sword," the police said in a statement. "Further, the tempo was driven dangerously and caused injuries to a policeman in the leg," it said.
A group of people gathered outside the police station in Mukherjee Nagar, near the Delhi University's north campus, to protest against the alleged assault on the driver.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asked Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure swift justice to the accused. "Shameful incident of @DelhiPolice ruthlessly beating up Sarabjeet Singh & Balwant Singh over a petty issue. Request HM @AmitShah to ensure justice," the Chief Minister tweeted.
Former Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president Manjit Singh GK condemned the alleged attack. "Policemen stopped the auto driver and pointed a pistol at him; he was later dragged out of the vehicle and brutally thrashed," said Manjit Singh, ANI reported.