AI summit protest fallout: From 5.30am knock to midnight standoff — the day Delhi and Himachal Police locked horns
Times of India
by TOI CITY DESKFebruary 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A pre-dawn arrest operation by Delhi Police in Himachal Pradesh spiraled into an unprecedented interstate standoff between the police forces of Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. The clash began when three Youth Congress activists were detained in Rohru as part of a February 20 protest-related FIR during the India AI Summit. What started as a routine arrest escalated dramatically after Himachal Pradesh Police filed a counter-allegation of abduction, leading to highway confrontations, legal battles, and even the seizure of a Delhi Police vehicle.
The incident unfolded when Delhi Police arrested three activists linked to a protest at the Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Acting on an FIR tied to the demonstration, a Delhi Police team traveled to Rohru, 110 km from Shimla, where they detained Saurav, Arbaaz, and Siddharth under technical surveillance and prior intelligence. The trio was then transported towards Shimla, with plans to move them to Delhi. However, the situation took a sharp turn when Himachal Pradesh Police intercepted the convoy near Dharampur, accusing Delhi Police of operating without informing local authorities and allegedly violating procedural norms.
Tensions escalated further as both sides traded accusations over procedural irregularities. The Delhi Police claimed their actions were lawful, while Himachal Pradesh Police argued that the arrests amounted to abduction due to a lack of proper documentation and the removal of the resort's CCTV DVR. By evening, the legal battle reached Shimla's ACJM-II court, where Delhi Police sought transit remand to transfer the detainees to Delhi. Defense lawyers opposed the move, citing illegal detention and procedural lapses.
The standoff continued into the early hours of Thursday when the Delhi Police convoy was halted again near Shoghi on National Highway-5 by Shimla Police. This time, the demand was for Delhi Police officials to join the investigation into the Rohru complaint. The incident highlights the deepening jurisdictional conflict between the two states and raises questions about police conduct during inter-state arrests.
The fallout underscores broader concerns over interstate law enforcement cooperation in India. The clash not only reflects tensions between political parties but also points to challenges in maintaining procedural integrity during cross-state operations. As protests and counter-protests continue to dominate headlines, this incident adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discourse on police accountability and jurisdictional disputes.
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/26/2026