Individual lapse of judgement: Haryana Police officer on video of ACP using JCB to remove vendors

Amid outrage over an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) deploying a JCB machine to remove vendors from a road, a senior official of Haryana Police said the incident was an “individual lapse of judgement” and that the officer has been asked to remain cautious in the future.

ACP Dinesh Kumar, who is a former international boxer, is facing public outrage after he deployed the earth mover to clear the road following complaints of road blockage.

Taking cognisance of the video, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Bahadurgarh, Mayank Mishra called it "an individual lapse of judgement".

Haryana Director General of Police O.P. Singh also took note of the action to remove the vegetable vendors from the road in Bahadurgarh and spoke to the Bhadurgarh DCP and the Jhajjar Commissioner of Police.

Mr. Mishra, while speaking about a video circulating on social media on Sunday (October 26, 2025), said, "One of our officers is seen pushing back some vegetable vendors with the help of a JCB machine. This video was examined and fact-checked, following which it was found that in the Patel Nagar area, many complaints about the road blockage were received,” DCP Mishra added.

“There was a lot of encroachment on that road, after which a police team visited the spot,” Mr. Mishra said.

“Despite the right intent, the method that was adopted was wrong,” the DCP said, referring to ACP Kumar, seen giving instructions to the JCB operator to remove the vegetables.

"This is not the department's policy. It is an individual lapse of judgement for which he has been asked to remain cautious in the future," the DCP said in a video message.