Kiran Bedi Sides With Cops in the Tis Hazari Lawyers Versus Police Clash

Retired IPS officer and Pondicherry governor Kiran Bedi has broken her silence in the controversial Tis Hazari (a court in Delhi, outside of which the incident happened) clash between Delhi Police and lawyers on November 5. "Never drive men and women in uniform to the wall and let them lose faith in their own service and own seniors," she said in a statement.

"When Policemen and women perform their duty fairly, firmly, fearlessly and responsibly, they need to be protected by their seniors." - Kiran Bedi.

Bedi's response came after 11 hours of protest by thousands of Delhi police personnel after two cops were assaulted by lawyers at the Tis Hazari and Saket court complexes on Saturday and Monday. The protesting police officers chanted "Kiran Bedi lao, Delhi Police bachao" while staging demonstrations.

#WATCH Delhi Police personnel raise slogans of "Humara CP (Commissioner of Police) kaisa ho, Kiran Bedi jaisa ho" outside the Police Head Quarters (PHQ) in ITO. They are protesting against the clash that broke out between police & lawyers at Tis Hazari Court on 2nd November. pic.twitter.com/f4Cs7kx9Dr

— ANI (@ANI) November 5, 2019

"When Policemen and women perform their duty fairly, firmly, fearlessly and responsibly, they need to be protected by their seniors," said Bedi, who retired at the rank of director-general of police. She recollected a similar protest that broke out during her service in 1988 when a lawyer arrested for theft was brought to the Tis Hazari Court in handcuffs. She reminded the force, "I remained firm and refused to budge to the demand of the lawyers seeking suspension/arrest of the cops responsible for handcuffing the advocate."

The protesting police officers chanted "Kiran Bedi lao, Delhi Police bachao" while staging demonstrations.

“Such actions are the defining moments of police leadership...As mine did in Jan 1988. We then did not have viral videos. Technology now speaks and provides evidence for and against. There are lessons to be learnt for all, from this incident yet again. Key is, are we willing?” her statement read.

Bedi, who was DCP North in 1988, told PTI on Tuesday that the then police commissioner of the city supported her thoroughly as the protests went on for days and left many injured. While on the contrary, the Delhi Police commissioner, Amulya Patnaik was heckled by the police constables after he told them to call off the agitation.

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Bedi stated that it is the duty of seniors to ensure that no one is prejudged and humiliated for doing their bonafide work. "It is the duty of the police department to scrutinise the personnel's acts of commissions and omissions in a rigorous manner. This is when the role of leadership comes in. Police personnel, in turn, must trust their seniors that while they do their duty, they shall be defended, protected and heard before being judged," she said.

She added, "Something of this kind cannot go amiss. People will suffer in the long run if we weaken this responsibility. We need a decisive force for all-round protection. A crisis will come and go, it is the way of the world."

The conflict arose after a parking row that expanded beyond the limit. Personnel of the Delhi Police surrounded the Police Headquarter located at ITO to protest against the attack by the lawyers on Saturday which left at least 20 police personnel injured and several vehicles damaged.

Picture Credit- IChowk

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