Court scuffle: charge of police's inaction being probed: Bassi

Under mounting attack over police inaction when journalists and JNU students were being thrashed in a court complex, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today said the alleged negligence is being probed and the guilty will face legal action.

Asked why policemen present at the Patiala House Court did not intervene when the assault was going on, Bassi only said the issue pertains to people from "two different lines of thought" confronting each other in a charged environment.

When pressed further, he said, "In the investigation, we will also probe whether there was any negligence on part of any police personnel. If it turns out to be so, the concerned official will have to face legal action."

Bassi had yesterday termed the assault as a "minor" incident, saying it was fallout of an emotive issue, comments which evoked strong reaction from journalists and JNU students.

Yesterday, groups of lawyers had beaten up journalists and JNU students and teachers in the Patiala House court complex ahead of the hearing of the sedition case registered against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with an event at the university last week to protest hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Delhi BJP MLA OP Sharma was also seen beating up a CPI activist.

Asked why Sharma has not been booked when he was caught on camera assulting a man, Bassi said, "Whoever is found guilty during investigation, will have to face legal action.

"As soon as I got to know about the scuffle, particularly with journalists, I asked my officers to register a case and instructed the concerned DCP to expedite the investigation," the Police Commissioner said on the sidelines of the 69th Raising Day Parade of Delhi Police.

About Sharma's involvement, Bassi said both parties in the matter were taken for medical examination and they have given their statements to the police.

The police have obtained several video grabs and a separate team has been constituted to identify the accused persons.

In the morning, a group of journalists went to the police and claimed to have identified one of those who had assaulted them. Police said identity of the man is being ascertained.

Two FIRs were registered last night in connection with the attacks on journalists and students and teachers of JNU.

"The FIRs have been registered against unnamed persons under relevant Sections of the IPC," DCP (New Delhi) Jatin Narwal said, adding, police registered both cases taking suo motu cognizance of the entire episode.

Several complaints were received by police at three different police stations in New Delhi district relating to the assault.

While the first case specifically relates to the scuffle that took place inside the premises of the court, the second was registered for the brawl between the BJP MLA and CPI activist Ameeque Jamai outside Gate number 2 of the court.