A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said the directions were aimed at ensuring that personnel maintain professionalism and restraint while performing crowd-management duties
Fresh guidelines issued to Delhi Police by a central agency advise personnel to remain calm during protests, avoid rising to provocation and being pictured as “villains” by the demonstrators filming them, police sources said on Sunday.
The guidelines come in the backdrop of the allegations of police excesses during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar last month.Your anger is their satisfaction and content for them to portray you as villains,” the fresh guidelines say, urging personnel to exercise restraint and remain conscious that their conduct during protests is likely to be recorded and scrutinised.
A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said the directions were aimed at ensuring that personnel maintain professionalism and restraint while performing crowd-management duties.
The personnel have also been asked to not accept flowers, food or any other items from the women protesters.
In some videos shared online, agitators were seen offering flowers to police personnel. The protesters were heard saying that although they had been lathi charged by police, they would still offer flowers to them. The contrasting visuals of confrontation and protesters offering flowers led to criticism of the forces by a large number of social media users.
At the same time, the guidelines emphasise that maintaining law and order should not come at the cost of public safety. Personnel have been directed to assist protesters who fall ill or sustain injuries and ensure unobstructed movement for ambulances, schoolchildren and elderly people.
The directions assume significance following a series of protests in the national capital where police personnel and demonstrators were frequently seen filming each other. Several interactions captured on mobile phones subsequently became subjects of discussion and criticism on social media.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/cjp-protest-fresh-guidelines-urge-delhi-police-to-stay-calm-and-avoid-protesters-provocation/cid/2176351