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Auto Driver With Sword ‘Attacks’ Cops in Delhi, Gets LathichargedBy TheQuint

Three cops were suspended for allegedly thrashing two men with lathis after their auto bumped into a police vehicle in Mukherjee Nagar area of New Delhi on Sunday, 16 June, news agency ANI reported.

Videos of the altercation were shared widely on social media. In one of the purported videos, the driver was seen chasing policemen with a sword in his hand, while in another video, the policemen were seen thrashing him with lathis in an attempt to overpower him.

A police officer was injured in an altercation with the auto driver, who chased after him with a sword, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying on Sunday.

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However, it is alleged that the policemen dragged the driver and his son, belonging to the Sikh community, out of their auto and beat them up for "no reason".

The accident between a Gramin Sewa Tempo and a police vehicle reportedly occurred on Sunday evening, leading to an argument between them, which soon turned violent.

The tempo driver attacked police personnel on the head with a sword and also drove dangerously, a police officer told PTI.

‘The Man Did Not Harm Any Police Officer’

BJP MLA from Delhi’s Rajouri Garden, however, claimed that the “old man did not harm any police officer” and that the policemen instead insulted him by attacking his turban.

“The man pulled out the sword in self defence, not to attack anyone,” Manjinder Singh Sirsa, member of the Shiromani Akali Dal, said.

A protest was organised after the alleged incident and GT Ring Road was blocked in the driver's support, ANI reported.

Sirsa, who was also protesting outside the Mukherjee Nagar police station until late at night, had demanded that the policemen involved in the altercation be sacked.

He also claimed that the policemen beat the driver "mercilessly."

Later, he tweeted out a letter saying three police officials have been suspended for their “inhumane behaviour.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest Delhi) Vijyanta Arya has suspended Assistant Sub-inspector Sanjay Malik and Devendra and constable Pushpendra in connection with the case, according to ANI.

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‘Police Brutality in Mukherjee Nagar Unjustified’, Says Delhi CM Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday, 17 June, condemned the incident, saying the “police brutality in Mukherjee Nagar was unjustified.”

He demanded an impartial probe into the whole incident and said strict action should be taken against the guilty.

The matter is being personally enquired by Additional DCP and prompt action will be taken, ANI quoted officials as saying on Sunday.

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(With inputs from PTI and ANI)