ProtestCase – Delhi Police Return After Shimla Standoff Ends
ProtestCase – A tense face-off between the Himachal Pradesh Police and the Delhi Police concluded on Friday morning after nearly a full day of uncertainty, allowing officers from the national capital to leave Shimla with three Youth Congress leaders in custody. The development followed legal clearance granted overnight by a local court.
Court Grants Transit Remand After Late-Night Hearing
According to officials familiar with the matter, the Delhi Police team departed from the Shoghi barrier with the arrested individuals and vehicles that had been held during the standoff. The three accused had earlier been produced before a court in Shimla, which approved their transit remand, enabling their transfer to Delhi for further questioning.
Before the court proceedings, the accused and several Delhi Police personnel underwent medical examinations at Deendayal Upadhyay Zonal Hospital late Thursday night. They were then presented before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Ekansh Kapil in the early hours, where the court granted permission for their movement to the national capital.
Fresh Obstruction and Dispute Over Evidence
Despite the court order, tensions resurfaced Friday morning when the Delhi Police convoy was reportedly stopped at Kanlog in Shimla. Some officers were instructed to return to Delhi with the accused, while others were asked to remain in Himachal Pradesh in connection with a separate kidnapping case registered against them.
The convoy was later halted again near the Shoghi border. Sources indicated that a vehicle carrying CCTV footage and other material collected during the investigation became the focal point of disagreement. Himachal Pradesh Police personnel reportedly sought access to the vehicle and requested its keys. Delhi Police officials declined, maintaining control over the seized material.
The impasse was resolved only after Delhi Police provided a formal seizure memo detailing the items in their possession. However, the digital evidence itself was not handed over. After this exchange, the convoy was permitted to proceed to Delhi.
Arrests Linked to AI Summit Protest
The three individuals taken into custody have been identified as Saurabh Singh and Arbaaz Khan from Uttar Pradesh, and Siddharth Avdhoot from Madhya Pradesh. They were apprehended by the Delhi Police from the Rohru area of Shimla district.
Their arrest is connected to a protest during the recent AI Summit held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Authorities allege that a group of Indian Youth Congress members entered the venue and staged a shirtless demonstration while raising slogans. The incident led to a case being registered and a wider investigation into those involved.
After being brought to Delhi, a local court remanded the three to police custody for three days. So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in connection with the protest. Among them is Uday Bhanu Chib, president of the Indian Youth Congress.
Political Reactions Intensify in Himachal Pradesh
The confrontation between the two state police forces has triggered sharp political reactions in Himachal Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party has sought the intervention of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, urging an independent probe by a central agency into the episode and the alleged involvement of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, along with other party representatives, submitted a memorandum to the Governor. He described the incident as unprecedented in the state and questioned why Delhi Police officers were stopped even after obtaining valid transit remand from a court.
Thakur argued that cooperation between law enforcement agencies is essential within the federal framework and said the obstruction raised serious concerns about adherence to established procedures.
On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh Congress president Vinay Kumar criticized the action against the Youth Congress workers. He alleged that the broader crackdown reflects shrinking space for dissent and accused the central government of suppressing freedom of expression.
Investigation Continues Amid Federal Tensions
While the immediate standoff has ended, the episode has underscored the sensitivities involved in inter-state police coordination, especially in politically charged cases. Officials from both sides have refrained from making detailed public statements, but the matter remains under scrutiny.
As investigations proceed in Delhi, attention is likely to remain focused on both the legal process surrounding the protest and the circumstances that led to the unusual confrontation between two state police forces.