Delhi Police Personnel Take Protest to PHQ, Oppose Transfer of Two Officers

New Delhi, November 02, 2026 In a rare show of dissent within the police force, around 80 Delhi Police personnel assembled outside the Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Monday morning, opposing the transfer of two officers following a controversial incident at Shahdara police station. The demonstration brought internal discontent within the force into the spotlight and sparked reactions on social media, with many highlighting the irony of police personnel, who routinely handle public protests, staging a demonstration outside their own headquarters. DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma reached Gate No. 1 shortly after the gathering began and spoke to ACP Manasvi Vashistha, one of the transferred officers, asking him not to participate in the protest. Emphasising the discipline expected from police personnel, Sharma told them they should not “behave like protesters.” He also invited some of them to accompany him inside the headquarters, but they refused. The personnel insisted on holding a Sampark Sabha with the Police Commissioner to present their concerns. The action against the two officers followed an incident on October 23, when an advocate allegedly sustained a serious head injury during a scuffle at Shahdara police station. ACP Manasvi Vashistha, who was posted in the Gandhi Nagar subdivision, and Inspector Arun Kumar, the Station House Officer of Shahdara police station, were subsequently transferred. The incident had triggered an indefinite strike by district court lawyers, who demanded action against the officers concerned. The lawyers called off their strike on October 28 after the transfer orders were issued. The transfers, however, prompted dissatisfaction among a section of Delhi Police personnel. They questioned the decision and sought an opportunity to meet the Police Commissioner to discuss the action taken against their colleagues. Messages circulated in police WhatsApp groups had urged personnel to gather outside the headquarters on Monday, support the transferred officers and demand the restoration of their previous postings. Reacting to the proposed demonstration, ACP Manasvi Vashistha said the call had emerged organically among police personnel and that he was joining it. The protest has brought the disagreement within the force into public view, with personnel seeking a direct opportunity to convey their grievances to senior officials.