Delhi Police should remain calm despite provocation: Amit Shah
Delhi Police should remain calm in the face of provocation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. Interestingly, his statement comes on a day a CCTV footage purportedly showed the Delhi Police attacking students in Jamia Millia Islamia University’s library in December.
Delhi Police should remain calm in the face of provocation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday (February 16). Interestingly, his statement comes on a day a CCTV footage purportedly showed the Delhi Police attacking students in Jamia Millia Islamia University’s library in December.
Speaking at the 73rd Raising Day ceremony of the Delhi Police, Shah called the Delhi Police one of the leading metropolitan police forces in the country and the world which has foiled attempts to create disturbance without any fail.
Citing a speech of the India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1950, he said, “Despite all the anger and provocation, Delhi Police should remain calm but it should also be ready to deal with the miscreants with firm hands to protect the people.” “I believe, on many occasions the Delhi Police has lived up to this advice of Saradar Patel,” the home minister said.
Related news: Marched out of hostels and treated like criminals by cops: Jamia students
He lauded the force saying it has helped the government on important occasions like celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day, festivals and visits by foreign dignitaries. Shah said it must be kept in mind that more than 35,000 police personnel laid down their lives on the line of duty.
Earlier in the day, the Jamia Coordination Committee, a group comprising of Jamia students and alumni, released 48-second video, which appears to be CCTV footage, purportedly showing paramilitary and police personnel beating up students in the library of the university on December 15.
Exclusive CCTV Footage of Police Brutality in Old Reading Hall, First floor-M.A/M.Phill Section on
15/12/2019
Shame on you @DelhiPolice @ndtvindia @ttindia @tehseenp @RanaAyyub @Mdzeeshanayyub @ReallySwara @ANI @CNN @ReutersIndia @AltNews @BBCHindi @the_hindu @TheQuint @BDUTT pic.twitter.com/q2Z9Xq7lxv— Jamia Coordination Committee (@Jamia_JCC) February 15, 2020
The university, however, clarified that the video was not released by it even as the police said they will examine the footage. It showed the paramilitary and police personnel entering the Old Reading Hall and beating up students with batons. They were also seen covering their faces with handkerchiefs.
In his speech, Shah also paid homage to the five Delhi Police personnel who lost their lives in the 2001 terror attack at Parliament building, and to Inspector MC Sharma who died in the Batla House encounter with terrorists. He also presented medals to Delhi Police officers for their meritorious service.
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Shah said that under the Delhi Safe City Project, the Centre has sanctioned ₹857 crore for the safety and security of the capital city. As many as 10,000 CCTV cameras have been set up in the area covered by 165 police stations and 9,300 more has been sanctioned to ensure safety of women in the city, he said.
About police welfare measures, the home minister said the Centre has sanctioned ₹137 crore for housing. The Delhi Police itself was constructing more than 700 residences for its personnel, Shah said and expressing confidence that the issue of residential needs would be solved in the near future.
(With inputs from agencies)
