Delhi Police allege attack during SIR protest; constable claims Congress workers helped attacker escape

Delhi Police personnel have alleged that they were assaulted while trying to control the Congress-led INDIA bloc protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the national capital, with a head constable claiming that Congress workers shielded an alleged attacker and helped him leave the scene.

Several police personnel, including two constables and a head constable, spoke to IANS about the alleged incidents, saying they were targeted while attempting to manage the crowd and enforce restrictions at the protest site.

Delhi Police Constable Devendra Sandhu said he was attacked while trying to control protesters. He alleged that police personnel were targeted after informing the crowd that Section 163 was in force and that demonstrations were not allowed in the area.

According to Sandhu, some protesters approached the police from behind, pulled them down and then kicked and punched them. He said the personnel managed to protect themselves and move away from the crowd.

Sandhu also claimed that he saw the person who allegedly attacked him running away from the protest site. He described the man as wearing white clothes.

Head Constable Bhupendra Ahlawat alleged that he too was pulled down and kicked while on duty. He claimed that when he turned around to identify the person who had attacked him, Congress workers moved in and concealed the alleged attacker.

Ahlawat said the man was taken towards the green area in the middle of the roundabout and was subsequently allowed to leave the spot after being shielded by the protesting workers.

"They took him to the green area in the middle of the roundabout," Ahlawat told IANS, alleging that the workers deliberately concealed the man before allowing him to leave.

Ahlawat described the incident as deliberate, saying he believed the attacker was given an opportunity to escape after the alleged assault.

A woman constable, Seema, also recounted being assaulted during the protest. She said police personnel were focused on following instructions from their senior officers and did not immediately pay attention to their injuries.

Seema said she realised only later that she had been hurt. According to her, the incident occurred near Akashvani Bhavan while police were detaining legislators who were participating in the protest.

She said the MLAs were sitting with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.

The alleged incidents took place during the INDIA bloc's protest against the Election Commission's SIR exercise. According to reports, the Delhi Police have registered multiple FIRs over allegations of misbehaviour, manhandling and assault involving police personnel during the demonstration.

The police personnel's accounts are part of the allegations surrounding the protest, with investigations into the reported incidents continuing.

With IANS inputs