‘Follow Due Process’: Congress Reacts to Delhi–Shimla Police Faceoff Over IYC Arrests

The Congress on Thursday weighed in on the dramatic confrontation between Delhi Police and Himachal Pradesh Police over the arrest of three Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members, saying that law enforcement agencies must strictly adhere to established legal procedures during inter-state operations.

The clash between the two police forces unfolded after a Delhi Police team travelled to Himachal Pradesh to detain three IYC workers in connection with last week’s shirtless protest during an AI Summit in the national capital. Tensions escalated when Himachal authorities intercepted the team, alleging that mandatory protocols for inter-state arrests had not been observed.

Naresh Chauhan, media adviser to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, stated that any police force operating outside its jurisdiction must inform the concerned state’s authorities in advance. He suggested that the confrontation stemmed from what he described as “improper and unjustified” action by the visiting team.

According to Chauhan, even though the Delhi Police were acting under directions of the High Court, prior coordination with Himachal authorities was essential. The situation eventually reached a Shimla court, which granted transit remand for the accused after a late-night hearing.

The three individuals — Saurabh Singh and Arbaaz Khan from Uttar Pradesh, and Siddharth Avdhoot from Madhya Pradesh – were reportedly detained early Wednesday morning from Rohru in Himachal Pradesh. As the Delhi Police team transported them towards the state capital, Himachal officers intercepted the convoy near Dharampur in Solan district.

Officials in Himachal claimed that the visiting team had not secured the necessary transit remand before attempting to move the accused out of the state. Multiple vehicles from Delhi Police’s Special Cell were reportedly stopped during the operation.

The detained officers and the three accused were later produced before a local court in Shimla. In the early hours of Thursday, the court approved the Delhi Police’s plea for transit remand, allowing the team to proceed to the national capital with the accused. Medical examinations were also conducted following the court’s order.

The episode briefly saw allegations of unlawful detention from both sides, further intensifying the dispute. However, with the court’s intervention and approval of the remand request, the immediate confrontation was resolved.

The incident has sparked debate over inter-state policing norms and underscored the importance of procedural compliance when law enforcement agencies operate beyond their territorial jurisdiction.