Guwahati, Sept. 5 -- Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has criticised police conduct during recent student protests, saying officers appear to be losing the professional distance expected of them.

Speaking at the launch of retired IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad's book Policing the Republic on Friday, Justice Bhuyan said it was disturbing to see young Indian Police Service officers themselves using force against protesters.

"All of us are dismayed when we see young officers of the Indian Police Service personally going and assaulting protesters and demonstrators. This is something very, very distressing to observe," Justice Bhuyan said.

He said police officers are expected to maintain a certain level of detachment while performing...