Delhi Police Refutes 'Malicious' Video Alleging Personnel Wore Shoes in Gurdwara
Delhi Police refutes claims of personnel wearing shoes in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, calling the viral video a malicious attempt to disturb harmony.
The Delhi Police has officially debunked allegations regarding a viral video that appeared to show police personnel entering Gurdwara Bangla Sahib while wearing shoes. Authorities have labeled the circulation of the clip as an act of "malicious intent" designed to hurt religious sentiments and disrupt communal harmony.
Clarification on the Viral Clip
The controversy erupted after a video began circulating on social media, prompting outrage among various groups. However, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for New Delhi provided a crucial context that clarifies the situation.
According to the DCP, the police personnel seen in the footage were not entering the sanctum of the Gurdwara with footwear. Instead, they were walking through a common passage used by all devotees. This specific area is the route taken by visitors to reach the designated point where shoes must be removed before entering the holy premises.
"The process is the same for all devotees coming to Gurdwara," the DCP stated, emphasizing that the personnel were simply navigating the standard path used by the public to reach the shoe-removal station.
Legal Action Against Misinformation
The Delhi Police has taken a firm stance against those spreading the footage. They asserted that the video was shared deliberately to target a respectable religious community and undermine the peace of the city. The department confirmed that legal action is being initiated against those responsible for the intentional spread of the misleading clip.
Mass Detentions Amidst Protests in Delhi
The clarification regarding the Gurdwara video comes at a time of heightened tension in the national capital. On Saturday, Delhi witnessed widespread detentions as protesters attempted to march toward Jantar Mantar.
The demonstration, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters cited alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as the primary reason for their movement.
Key details of the crackdown include:
- Mass Detentions: Over 1,000 protesters were detained across Delhi to prevent them from reaching the protest site.
- High-Profile Detainees: Among those held were Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and All India Students' Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora.
- CJP Activists: Leaders including Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and legal head Ratna Singh were also taken into custody.
- Political Reactions: Following his detention, Arvind Kejriwal released a video claiming the nation's youth have awakened and cannot be intimidated. Meanwhile, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that she and five MPs were detained and held in a prison van for two hours.
While the Delhi Police released most detainees later in the evening, legal proceedings against the CJP activists are expected to continue.