Nearly 20 personnel from Delhi Police were detained by the Himachal Pradesh Police after they arrested three Youth Congress leaders from Rohru in Shimla district, triggering a dramatic inter-state confrontation and a fresh political row.
The Delhi Police team had reached Rohru to apprehend the leaders in connection with a protest staged during an AI summit held in New Delhi earlier this month. After carrying out the arrests, the team began its return journey to the national capital. However, near Dharampur in Solan district, their convoy was stopped by Himachal Pradesh Police following information shared by Shimla authorities.
Solan Superintendent of Police Tirumalaraju SD Varma confirmed that nakas were set up near Dharampur at the request of Shimla Police. The detained Delhi Police personnel, along with the arrested Youth Congress leaders, were taken to Shimla and produced before a local court. The Director General of Police has not yet issued an official response to the reports.
The incident quickly escalated into a political controversy. Kuldeep Rathore, AICC spokesperson and MLA from Theog, strongly criticised the Delhi Police action. He alleged that the police conducted a raid at Himachal Sadan without proper authorization and described it as an attempt to suppress dissent. Rathore said raiding premises without a warrant violates privacy and urged the state government to initiate strict legal action against the officials involved.
Rathore also linked the arrests to what he described as a growing crackdown on youth voices. According to him, Youth Congress workers had staged a peaceful protest on February 20 against the US-India trade deal, claiming it would negatively impact farmers and job opportunities for young people. He argued that unemployment and job cuts have created widespread frustration among youth across the country.
Referring to remarks attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rathore questioned whether democratic protest could be labeled anti-national. He said that dissent is a fundamental part of democracy and that governments must tolerate criticism. “India’s dignity is the responsibility of both protesters and the government,” he stated.
The episode has also raised legal questions about jurisdiction and procedure when police teams operate outside their home states. Law enforcement agencies typically coordinate with local authorities and follow formal protocols for such arrests. Legal experts say the court proceedings in Shimla will likely examine whether due process was followed by both sides.
For now, the focus remains on the courtroom, where both the detained officers and the Youth Congress leaders are seeking clarity. What began as a protest-related arrest has evolved into a larger debate about federal cooperation, democratic dissent, and the boundaries of police authority in India’s complex political landscape.
Key Highlights:
- Around 20 Delhi Police personnel were detained near Dharampur in Himachal Pradesh.
- Three Youth Congress leaders were arrested from Rohru over an AI Summit protest in New Delhi.
- Both the officers and the leaders were taken to Shimla and presented before a court.
- Kuldeep Rathore accused Delhi Police of violating legal procedures.
- The incident has intensified political and legal debates over protest rights and inter-state police action.
Summary:
An arrest operation linked to an AI Summit protest turned into an inter-state standoff after Himachal Pradesh Police detained nearly 20 Delhi Police personnel. With political leaders trading sharp words and legal scrutiny underway, the matter now rests with the judiciary as questions over procedure, jurisdiction, and democratic dissent continue to dominate the conversation.