Two cops beaten up by protesters at Singhu border, FIR registered

NEW DELHI: Two assistant sub inspectors (ASIs) of the Delhi Police’s special branch alleged they were branded as “government agents” and assaulted by protesters at the Singhu border in outer Delhi, where farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws for the last six months, while they were reportedly taking pictures of the event.

Police said they have filed an FIR, but farmer leaders dismissed it.

“The FIR is based on false allegations. The police barricades are around one kilometre away. Police don’t come towards the protest area and we don’t go towards the police barricades,” said Gurmeet Singh Mehma, a committee member of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition managing the agitation.

According to the complainant ASI, on Thursday at around 3.30 pm, he and his colleague were taking photographs of the SKM stage, when they were accused of being “government agents”.

The ASI alleged that they were beaten even after he showed them his identity card. In his statement, he said that he and his colleague rushed towards a tent and was rescued by locals.

Police said both the officers were taken to a nearby hospital. Police are yet to make any arrests in the case.

Bharatiya Kisan Union chief Rakesh Tikait hinted at a case of mistaken identity.

“They (policemen) must have been in civil dress and farmers might have mistaken them for media who portray their movement in a bad light,” he said.