Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 23: Three Delhi Police personnel were injured after a group allegedly attacked them with chilli powder, bricks and sticks during a confrontation over the seizure of a motorcycle in the Janta Vihar area of Mukundpur on Saturday afternoon.
The incident took place at around 3.30 pm in the Bhalswa Dairy police station area when beat staff were on patrol and conducting routine checking. According to police, Head Constables Dinesh and Rajesh found a motorcycle without valid documents during the checking. The motorcycle was taken to the police station and deposited under Section 66 of the Delhi Police Act as per procedure.
When the two policemen returned to their beat later, a group including the motorcycle owner and his family members allegedly confronted them and questioned the police action. The disagreement over the seizure of the motorcycle reportedly escalated into violence.
The attackers allegedly threw chilli powder into the policemen's eyes and then assaulted them with bricks and sticks. Head Constable Tinu, who reached the spot to assist Dinesh and Rajesh, was also allegedly attacked.
All three policemen sustained injuries in the incident. Head Constable Dinesh suffered a head injury. The injured personnel were provided medical treatment and their condition was reported to be stable.
Police teams subsequently launched efforts to identify and apprehend those involved in the attack. A 17-year-old juvenile was apprehended at the spot and was taken into custody as a Juvenile in Conflict with Law. The remaining accused allegedly fled from the area.
A case has been registered at Bhalswa Dairy police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify the other accused and establish the sequence of events.
According to police, the main absconding accused has been identified as Sunil alias Pankaj, described as a Bad Character (BC) of the area. Police said he has five previous criminal involvements, including two cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and other serious offences. Police teams are conducting searches to trace and apprehend him and the other accused.
The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including the seizure of the motorcycle and the events that preceded the alleged assault on the policemen.
An eyewitness claimed that the attack appeared to have been planned. According to the eyewitness, the assailants arrived carrying sticks and batons and first threw chilli powder into the policemen's eyes before assaulting them. The eyewitness further claimed that the attackers had been looking for the policemen for some time and appeared to know about a police staff room in the area where personnel stayed.
The eyewitness account is part of the information being examined, while police investigation will establish the circumstances and responsibility of those involved.
The incident has highlighted the risks faced by police personnel while carrying out routine patrol and enforcement duties in densely populated areas. Police teams continue to search for the absconding accused.