Politics – Delhi Police and Himachal Cops Clash Over Arrest
Politics – A tense confrontation unfolded in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday after a team from the Delhi Police arrived in Shimla to detain three Youth Congress leaders, triggering a jurisdictional dispute with the state police.
Arrest Operation Sparks Inter-State Dispute
According to officials, nearly 20 Delhi Police personnel reached Rohru in Shimla district to arrest three Youth Congress members. The action was linked to a protest held in the national capital during an AI summit earlier this year. After taking the three leaders into custody, the Delhi team began its return journey to New Delhi.
However, the situation escalated when the vehicle carrying the detainees was intercepted near Dharampur in Solan district by the Himachal Pradesh Police. The state police reportedly stopped the convoy and escorted both the Delhi officers and the detained leaders back to Shimla.
Court Appearance and Legal Arguments
By afternoon, the detained leaders and the visiting police personnel were presented before a local court in Shimla. The Delhi Police submitted documents related to the case registered in the national capital and maintained that they possessed valid arrest memos and other required paperwork. Officials indicated that their intention was to produce the three leaders before a competent court in Delhi.
Himachal Pradesh Police officials, however, argued that they had not been informed in advance about the arrest operation within their jurisdiction. The lack of prior communication formed the basis of their objection.
After reviewing the documents, the court permitted the Delhi Police to proceed with taking the three individuals to Delhi for further legal proceedings.
Fresh FIR Filed on Abduction Allegation
The matter did not end with the court’s order. Late in the evening, as the Delhi Police team was heading out of Shimla, it was once again stopped—this time at Shoghi. Officers were informed that a First Information Report had been registered against unidentified individuals on allegations of abduction. The Delhi team was asked to join the investigation.
In an official statement, the Himachal Pradesh Police said Shimla Police had received information earlier in the day that 15 to 20 men in plain clothes had arrived at a resort in Mandli village in Chirgaon, Rohru, and forcibly taken away three individuals staying there.
The statement further claimed that a vehicle belonging to the guests, described as a Thar, was also taken. Additionally, the digital video recorder from CCTV cameras installed at the resort was allegedly removed without issuing a seizure memo or receipt. Based on these details, an FIR was registered at Chirgaon Police Station, and an investigation was initiated in accordance with the law.
Questions Over Procedure and Jurisdiction
Sources familiar with the development said the three Youth Congress workers detained by Delhi Police are not residents of Himachal Pradesh. A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the arrests were carried out without following what he described as due procedural requirements within the state.
Delhi Police officials, meanwhile, accused their Himachal counterparts of obstructing official duty. The standoff highlighted concerns about coordination between law enforcement agencies across state lines, particularly in politically sensitive cases.
Political Reactions Intensify
The incident also drew sharp political responses. Kuldeep Rathore, an MLA from Theog and spokesperson for the All India Congress Committee, criticised the action taken by the Delhi Police. He alleged that the move was intended to silence opposition voices and questioned the manner in which the arrests were conducted.
Rathore said that entering premises without a warrant amounts to a breach of privacy and urged the state government to examine the legal aspects of the operation. He maintained that the Youth Congress workers had participated in a peaceful protest in February, expressing concerns about the US-India trade agreement and its potential impact on farmers and young people.
Late on Thursday night, officials from both the Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police were engaged in discussions at Shoghi in an effort to resolve the impasse. The outcome of the investigation and the inter-state deliberations is awaited.