Pawan Sangle, Sandeep Lamba, Sonia Sehrawat: Why 3 Security Personnel Are Facing Action Amid Protests
Pawan Sangle, Sandeep Lamba, Sonia Sehrawat: Why 3 Security Personnel Are Facing Action Amid Protests Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 12:53 IST Mumbai
Pawan Sangle, Sandeep Lamba, Sonia Sehrawat: Why 3 Security Personnel Are Facing Action Amid Protests Published By, Last Updated: July 24, 2026, 12:53 IST Mumbai Police constable Pawan Sangle, Delhi Police Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba and Rapid Action Force (RAF) Assistant Commandant Sonia Sehrawat are facing action. Rapid Read Pawan Sangle, Sandeep Lamba, Sonia Sehrawat. The nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and related demands for accountability have drawn attention to the conduct of security personnel deployed to manage demonstrations. With social media videos from protests in Delhi as well as Mumbai going viral, some security personnel have come under the scanner. In the span of just a few days, three officers from different security forces – Mumbai Police constable Pawan Sangle, Delhi Police Additional DCP Sandeep Lamba and Rapid Action Force (RAF) Assistant Commandant Sonia Sehrawat – have found themselves facing disciplinary action over separate incidents linked to the protests. While each case is distinct, together they underscore how the actions of individual officers during high-pressure crowd-control situations are increasingly coming under public and institutional scrutiny. Pawan Sangle: Suspended After Viral ‘Drug Case’ Threat Mumbai Police constable Pawan Sangle was suspended after a video surfaced online showing him allegedly threatening student protesters with false narcotics charges if they continued demonstrating. In the widely shared clip, Sangle is heard warning detained students that he could “plant" narcotics in their bags and ensure they spent the rest of their lives in jail.
According to reports, he allegedly told them he would place “50-50 grams of powder" in their bags and frame them in a drug case if they returned to protest. The remarks triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning the misuse of police authority. Mumbai Police clarified that Sangle was attached to the Motor Transport unit as a driver and was not part of the city’s senior command structure. Nevertheless, he was immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry was initiated into the incident. Sandeep Lamba: Removed From Protest Duty After Slap Video In Delhi, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) Sandeep Lamba was removed from deployment at Jantar Mantar after a viral video appeared to show him slapping a woman protester during clashes at the “Sansad Chalo" demonstration. The incident occurred as police attempted to control protesters marching towards Parliament. The video showed Lamba striking a woman amid the scuffle, prompting sharp criticism from opposition leaders and civil society groups. Delhi Police acknowledged that the senior officer had “lost his cool" during the confrontation. While defending the broader police response by citing violence during the protest, the force shifted Lamba away from Jantar Mantar pending further examination of the incident. Reports said police leadership viewed the officer’s conduct as inconsistent with expected standards of crowd management. The protest organisers also accused Lamba of using excessive force against demonstrators, allegations that added to the demand for disciplinary action.
The BriefWire