Mohammad Habib of 8/2, Dakshinpuri, said his son Javed, 17, had a fight with a neighbour around 7 pm on Saturday. “The fight was sorted out soon and a compromise was worked out,” Habib told Newsline, lying on a bed at his house. “Around 9.30 pm, three policemen, including the beat constable of this area, Bekanad Chobe, barged into my house and tried to take away my son. When I tried to stop them they started abusing me. Then they beat me on my leg many times and put me inside the police van.”

He said the cops continued beating him till they reached the police station.

Police sources said when Habib was brought inside, he had severe injury marks on his leg and was bleeding. He was immediately sent to AIIMS Trauma Centre to get a medico-legal examination done. The report indicated two fractures on his right leg.

Residents of Dakshinpuri stood outside the police station, demanding registration of an FIR.

A local leader, Suresh Gupta, told Newsline, “I called up Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal, complaining about the incident and demanded an FIR. He told me to call the ACP, but I told him that the ACP would not listen to me. Some 15 minutes later Station House Officer Subhash Tandon called me up.”

Gupta said the SHO came half an hour later and tried to pacify the crowd saying a vigilance inquiry would be conducted.

“But we wanted an FIR and therefore we demanded that a diary entry be recorded,” Gupta said.

After about six hours of the incident, Habib’s wife’s statement was recorded. Habib said they finally returned home at 4 am on Sunday.

“It is highly irresponsible on part of such officers to have beaten me up. I am an old man and very poor. At least they should have respected my age,” Habib said.

Police said action would be taken only after an inquiry has been conducted.