Delhi Police officer kicks men offering namaz, suspended

A purported video clip of the incident showed Tomar kicking and pushing some men offering namaz, in an apparent effort to remove them from the area. The video clip also showed two other policemen walking behind Tomar, shouting at the devotees to fold their mats and leave the spot.

According to some eyewitnesses who were among those offering namaz, the crowd of devotees had spilled over from the mosque to the road outside, but were not blocking traffic.

About 10 minutes after the prayers started, Tomar reportedly approached the devotees, kicking some of them, and shouting at them to leave the spot, as seen in the video clip.

“We were not blocking the road… only a narrow pathway beside the mosque was being used to read the namaz, and traffic was flowing smoothly as it does every Friday,” said one of the devotees.

“We had just spread out our mats and sat down to read the namaz when the incident took place… police personnel approached us from behind and forcefully removed us, although the road was not blocked… there is a layer of police security (deployed) from the nearby police post every Friday when we offer namaz, but this is the first time this has happened,” said another person who did not want to be named.

After the incident, a crowd gathered outside the police post, demanding action against Tomar.

“Action has been taken against the police officer in the video. He has been suspended. Further action will be taken. The local residents joined us in explaining to the crowd that police have taken action, and announcements were made from mosques,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Manoj Kumar Meena.

While no official complaint has been filed, police said disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the SI. Police also said they are checking if any complaints have been registered against Tomar in the past. The SI was posted at the Inderlok chowki for the past two months.

Security was stepped up in the area, including deployment of riot-control vehicles and paramilitary forces with DCP-level and Joint CP-level officers being sent to maintain law and order.

Some of the devotees were seen making announcements on a microphone, asking the crowd to maintain peace in the area.

“The people of the North-East Delhi district have always supported the police in maintaining law and order. We condemn the Inderlok incident. In view of this, strict instructions have been given to all the police personnel. There is an appeal to all the people to maintain social harmony and not pay attention to rumours,” DCP, Northeast, Joy Tirkey, said in a social media post on ‘X’.