Public outcry has erupted after an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in Haryana controversially used a JCB earth-moving machine to clear street vendors from a road. Following the incident, a senior Haryana Police official has labeled the action an “individual lapse of judgment” and instructed the officer to exercise greater caution going forward.
ACP Dinesh Kumar, a former international boxer, found himself at the center of public criticism after a video circulated online showing him directing the use of the heavy machinery to displace vendors. This move was reportedly in response to complaints about road blockages.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mayank Mishra of Bahadurgarh addressed the viral video, reiterating that it was an “individual lapse of judgment.”
Haryana’s Director General of Police, O.P. Singh, also took serious note of the incident in Bahadurgarh, engaging in discussions with both the Bahadurgarh DCP and the Jhajjar Commissioner of Police regarding the police officer’s actions.
DCP Mishra explained that the video, which surfaced on Sunday, October 26, 2025, depicted an officer “pushing back some vegetable vendors with the help of a JCB machine.” After reviewing and fact-checking the footage, it was confirmed that the incident occurred in the Patel Nagar area, where numerous complaints had been received regarding significant road encroachment.
“Although the intent behind the action may have been justified,” Mr. Mishra stated, referring to ACP Kumar’s instructions to the JCB operator to clear the vegetables, “the method employed was unequivocally wrong.”
“This approach does not align with the department’s official policy. It reflects an individual lapse of judgment, and the officer involved has been cautioned to act with more discretion in the future,” the DCP concluded in a video statement.