The Delhi police launched protests in front of the policeheadquarter, a day after an on-duty policeman was allegedly manhandled by aprotesting lawyer outside the Saket district court.
Donning civilian clothes, scores of Delhi cops abandoned their duties and gathered outside the Police Headquarters in ITO, demanding to meet the Police Commissioner and put forward their grievances. Several of them hoisted banners that read slogans like, "Save Police," "We are Humans Too", among other messages. Severe traffic congestion was reported and road around the area was blocked after protesting cops sat down on a dharna.
A policeman, while quoted by CNN-News 18 said that this is apeaceful protest and that they want to meet the commissioner and apprise him ofthe situation themselves.
Another woman constable said that people don't realize the kindof danger they are put through every day. "If we can't save ourselves, then howwill we fulfill our responsibility of protecting others? We are human beingstoo and we must be treated with respect," said the police constable.
On Saturday, violence erupted at Tis Hazari courts in NorthDelhi between police and lawyers following a parking row in which 21 policepersonnel and eight lawyers were injured. As many as 14 motorcycles, one policecar, were burnt and eight prison vans were damaged.
In a special hearing on Sunday, the Delhi High Court ordered ajudicial inquiry by a retired High Court judge into the clash and directed that"no coercive action should be taken against any lawyer on the basis of theFIRs lodged at the behest of police officials".
