New Delhi
oi-Swastika Sruti
Amid ongoing protests in Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner Arshdeep Singh has raised concerns over the treatment of police personnel deployed for crowd control.
Delhi Police ACP Arshdeep Singh reported police personnel, including women, faced abuse and manhandling during protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over voter list issues. Amidst counter-allegations, Delhi Police deployed body cameras for crowd control duties.
Singh alleged that senior officers and women police personnel were pushed, dragged, heckled and abused while trying to manage the protesters. He said such incidents could affect the morale of the police force.
The remarks come as tensions have increased in central Delhi during repeated demonstrations linked to allegations of irregularities in the voter-list revision process.
Opposition parties and other groups have been demanding action against the Election Commission, while the poll panel has rejected allegations of wrongdoing.
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— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) October 7, 2026
ACP Says Women Cops Were Dragged And Manhandled
Speaking about the challenges faced by police during crowd control, ACP Arshdeep Singh alleged that women personnel were particularly vulnerable during confrontations with protesters.
Singh claimed that some women officers were pulled into crowds, pushed and physically manhandled while attempting to maintain law and order. He also alleged that some personnel had been bitten during such incidents.
“The level of disrespect shown here often involves dragging female staff into the fray,” Singh said, describing the alleged treatment of women personnel during the protests.
He said police personnel were also dealing with verbal abuse while performing duties at protest sites.
‘They Try To Target, Push And Heckle Us’
Singh said senior officers were sometimes singled out because protesters could identify them by their blue caps or lanyards.
He alleged that officers were deliberately targeted, pushed and heckled, and said this could have an impact on the morale of the wider force.
“As I mentioned earlier, the aim is to target them to demotivate and demoralise the force, causing the entire force to lose morale,” Singh said.
The ACP also said that abusive remarks were sometimes directed not only at police personnel but also at their families.
He stressed that officers deployed at the protests were carrying out duties assigned to them under the law.
Police And Protesters Face Competing Allegations
Comments by ACP come in the wake of the allegations by protesters and the media regarding the behavior of the police officers during the protests.
Three female journalists have accused the police officers of harassment and assault during an October 3 protest near Jantar Mantar. Their cases have been referred to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police. One of the complaints was against ACP Vivek Bhagat.
While some of the allegations have been denied by Delhi Police, describing some claims regarding the treatment of women as misguiding, their cases are still being investigated.
Contradictory allegations have brought yet another dimension to this already controversial situation.
Delhi Police Deploys Body Cameras
Against this backdrop, Delhi Police has equipped frontline personnel deployed for protest and crowd-control duties with body-worn cameras.
The cameras are intended to create a real-time record of interactions between police personnel and protesters. The footage could also be used as evidence when examining allegations of misconduct or disputes over what happened during a confrontation.
The move comes after repeated clashes and allegations of excessive force during demonstrations in central Delhi.
Police have been dealing with multiple groups attempting to move towards restricted areas, making crowd management more complicated. Delhi Police has also issued guidelines for journalists covering the protests, asking them to display valid identification and maintain a safe distance during tense situations.
Protests Continue Over Gyanesh Kumar
The protests have continued as Opposition parties and other groups demand the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs were again detained after attempting to move towards Jantar Mantar. The demonstrations have led to heavy police deployment and repeated confrontations between protesters and security personnel.
