New Delhi: National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma on Friday wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik demanding an inquiry into the mob attack on Deputy Commissioner Monika Bhardwaj during the violent clashes between lawyers and the police at the Tis Hazari court complex on November 2.
Sharma cited video footage on the incident and said a First Investigation Report should be registered against the violators.
She has also written to the Bar Council of India.
A classified report by the Special Branch of the Delhi Police revealed that a mob of over 200 attacked Bhardwaj during the Tis Hazari clash.
The unarmed DCP could have been 'lynched' if a small contingent of police has not rushed to her rescue. An audio of the DCP's Personal Security Officer (PSO) and 1.40 minutes of live video captured on the scene of the crime, corroborates the Special Branch report.
The video, now a crucial part of the investigation, reveals that as police vehicles were being torched inside the court campus, Bhardwaj, her PSO (known as an operator in police terminology) and a few other constables were encircled by a frenzied mob. The video shows that the violent mob, mostly of men in black and white dress, roughed up the cops including her.
Also read: Tis Hazari violence: Latest CCTV footage shows DCP Monika Bhardwaj being chased during clash
The report said that as the woman DCP and her staff were being beaten up, a message sent to a nearby police outpost was swiftly attended. Around 10-12 policemen led by Station House Officer, Delhi Kotwali, Inspector Rajiv Bhardwaj rushed to the scene of violence and breached into the mob which had encircled the DCP.
The report further says that had the police contingent not reached the spot in time, the mob could have lynched the police officer and her staff who were outnumbered. During the rescue bid, Inspector Bhardwaj received a head injury while a few other constables were severely injured. One of the constables got his eardrum ruptured and was rushed to the hospital in a serious condition.
Besides the video, a five-minute audiotape of a policeman, who was seriously injured in Saturday's violent clashes at Tis Hazari courts, had earlier disclosed that Monika Bhardwaj, present on the spot was allegedly abused and roughed up by the lawyers and a desperate attempt was made to snatch away her PSO's service revolver.
While the PSO was thrashed with iron chains and lay unconscious on the ground, the DCP later broke down on Sunday and wept for quite some time during a meeting, the audio clip revealed.
Also read: Tis Hazari violence: Footage of assault on DCP surfaces, 2 cops transferred
Police sources informed that the audio clip is part of a recorded telephone conversation between the injured PSO of the DCP and one of her office staff. The PSO disclosed over the phone to his colleague how during the violent clashes, the lawyers severely assaulted him, resulting in a fracture in his shoulder and injuries in ribs and hands.
Swati Maliwal, the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, condemned the attack in a tweet and appealed for peace.
