LG summons top police officer, seeks report

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday summoned Delhi Police Joint Commissioner S K Gautam and sought a report over the police action against students during a protest outside RSS office in Central Delhi’s Jhandewalan area that has sparked widespread outrage.

Sources said that Gautam, who is the Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police’s Central range, briefed the LG over the issue at the latter’s office on Tuesday. Jung is learnt to have sought a detailed report on the incident which occurred on Saturday.

Gautam is heading the probe into the matter. The probe was initiated by Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi after due consultation with Special Commissioner (Law & Order) Deepak Mishra.

Delhi Police came under severe criticism after a video emerged in which its personnel were seen thrashing protesters and dragging activists by their hair outside the RSS office here during a demonstration against dalit student Rohith Vemula’s suicide.

The video of Saturday’s incident went viral on social media, triggering sharp reactions, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging the police force was being used as RSS and BJP’s “private army” under a political dispensation that is at “war” with students across the country.