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Delhi Police–Himachal Standoff: Rohru Arrest in AI Summit Protest Case Triggers Chirgaon FIR, Court Allows Custody
Shimla, Feb 26
A day-long high-voltage standoff unfolded across Shimla and Solan districts on Wednesday after a Delhi Police team picked up three persons from Rohru in connection with the AI Summit protest case, triggering objections from Himachal Pradesh Police over alleged procedural violations.
According to official inputs, the three individuals—stated to be Youth Congress office-bearers—were taken from a resort in Mandli (Chirgaon) during an early morning operation by a team of 15–20 Delhi Police personnel in plain clothes.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Shimla) Gaurav Singh said, “We received information that unidentified persons arrived at a resort in Mandli and forcibly took away three individuals staying there. The complainant also reported that a private vehicle was taken and the CCTV DVR was removed without any seizure memo or receipt. Based on this, an FIR has been registered at Police Station Chirgaon and further legal action is being taken.”
As the Delhi Police team began moving towards Delhi with the detained individuals, Himachal Pradesh Police intervened, terming the custody “illegal” due to lack of prior intimation and absence of transit remand. Naka-bandi was set up, and the team was first intercepted near Shoghi and later stopped again at Dharampur in Solan district.
Around 20 Delhi Police personnel were subsequently brought to Shimla and produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate. In court, the Himachal side argued that due legal procedure for inter-state arrests had not been followed. The Delhi Police maintained that the detention was within 24 hours and related to an FIR registered in Delhi, and therefore transit remand was not mandatory at that stage.
After hearing both sides, the court permitted Delhi Police to take custody of the three accused and proceed with the investigation in Delhi.
However, the FIR registered at Chirgaon remains under investigation. It focuses on allegations of forcible removal, seizure of a private vehicle, and removal of CCTV equipment without documentation. Authorities are examining whether due process under criminal procedure was followed during the operation.
The incident, involving a pre-dawn pickup, multiple highway interceptions, and a courtroom intervention, has put the spotlight on inter-state policing norms and procedural coordination between agencies.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
