Delhi Police denied permission for ‘Shree Ram Bhagwan Pratima Yatra’ on Ram Navami proposed for March 30 in Jahangirpuri. The DCP, North west Delhi responded to a request seeking permission for the same and denied the permission citing law and order issues.

Why could there be a law and order situation?

Communal clashes allegedly broke out during a procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on April 16, 2022. Violence broke out in the area when a religious procession of the majority community made its way past a mosque on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Nine people, including eight police personnel, were injured during the violence. It is alleged that procession participants allegedly chanted abusive slogans, entered a mosque during namaz and tried to plant a saffron flag inside.

The violence was followed by an “anti-encroachment drive” in the area. The local civic body, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the drive was launched to clear illegal constructions in the area. But Muslims say their properties were disproportionately targeted and they also questioned the timing of the drive, which continued for an hour after the Supreme Court gave an interim order to stop it.

What happened in the Jahangirpuri violence case?

Further, in a chargesheet filed on July 14 and July 28, 2022, before the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Rohini, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police have confirmed that members of the Shobha Yatra passing through Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti were indeed armed.

In the chargesheet it was further stated that the accused (attackers) were active on a Whatsapp group where they shared “hate speech messages against the other community/religion”, and that the group was called “Kabutar Sell Group”. Police named Tabrez Ansari as the main accused in the case. The chargesheet names 37 people who were arrested.

Charges have been filed under Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy), Section 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), Section 186 IPC (voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions), Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) Section 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) Section 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) Section 147 (Punishment for rioting) Section 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon) Section 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object) and Section 427 (Mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and under various provisions of Arms Act.

Sessions judge had pulled up Delhi Police

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh in May 2022 held that prima facie the case reflected that the local staff of the Jahangirpuri police station, led by inspector Rajiv Ranjan as well as other officials, were accompanying the allegedly illegal procession on its route, instead of stopping it.

The police even admitted that the procession had no permission from the police.

The Sessions judge had observed that the riot was a result of the failure of police officials in preventing the riots and noted, “It reflects the utter failure on the part of local police in stopping the said procession having no permission. The issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by the senior officers. The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police is not complacent in preventing the illegal activities.”

Clearly, the Delhi Police was openly called out by the Sessions Judge for not doing their job and instead accompanying the illegal procession that had no permission from the Police. To avoid any such lapse from their part, the north-west Delhi police has, this year, decided to act in the interest of law and order.

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The post Why did Delhi Police deny permission for Ram Navami procession in Jahangirpuri? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Delhi High Court has granted bail to a ragpicker named Jahid who was arrested in connection with the Jahangirpuri riots that took place during a Hanuman Jayanti procession earlier this year. The young man is believed to be 18-19 years old.

The court reported held, “Looking at his period of custody; the investigation being complete, and the petitioner being no more required for the purpose of investigation, is admitted to bail on his executing a personal bond of Rs. 20,000/- with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the learned Trial Court/ Duty MM.”

Most importantly, Justice Yogesh Khanna found that Jahid was not identified in any of the CCTV footage. The court observed, “So far as the petitioner herein is concerned, he has not been identified in any of the CCTV coverage. Admittedly, he is aged about 18-19 years and is running in custody since 17.04.2022. The chargesheet has since been filed, hence the investigation against petitioner stood completed.”

The FIR was registered under sec. 147, 148, 149, 186, 353, 332, 323, 427, 436, 307 ,120B of the Indian Penal Code and sec. 27 of the Arms Act.

Brief background of the case

Communal clashes allegedly broke out during a procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on April 16, 2022. Violence broke out in the area when a religious procession of the majority community made its way past a mosque on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Nine people, including eight police personnel, were injured during the violence. It is alleged that procession participants allegedly chanted abusive slogans, entered a mosque during namaz and tried to plant a saffron flag inside.

The violence was followed by an “anti-encroachment drive” in the area. The local civic body, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the drive was launched to clear illegal constructions in the area. But Muslims say their properties were disproportionately targeted and they also questioned the timing of the drive, which continued for an hour after the Supreme Court gave an interim order to stop it.

Related:

Jahangirpuri Violence: Delhi Police confirm that Shobha Yatris were armed

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Jahangirpuri demolition drive: Brinda Karat walks the talk yet again!

The post Jahangirpuri Communal Violence: Delhi High Court grants bail to ragpicker accused in the riots appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a chargesheet filed before the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Rohini, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police have confirmed that members of the Shobha Yatra passing through Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti were indeed armed. The incident took place on April 16.

Indian Express reports that the police have said that the Shobha Yatra members “carried firearms and other weapons”, however this was a “peaceful procession” until it was “confronted and attacked” by a gathering of Muslims.

Previous observations about police complicity by Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh

This is an interesting submission by the police, especially in wake of an observation by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh earlier in May this year that prima facie the case reflected that the local staff of the Jahangirpuri police station, led by inspector Rajiv Ranjan as well as other officials, were accompanying the allegedly illegal procession on its route, instead of stopping it. The court had noted then, “It is fairly admitted on behalf of the State that the last procession which was passing through during which the unfortunate riots took place was illegal having no prior permission from police. If that was the situation, then the contents of the FIR itself, show that the local staff of police station Jahangir Puri, led by Inspector Rajiv Ranjan as well as other officials from DCP reserve were accompanying the said illegal procession on its route. It appears that local police instead of performing their duty in stopping the said illegal procession in the beginning itself and dispersing the crowd, was accompanying them to the entire route which later on led to unfortunate riots between   the two communities.”

The Court had further observed the riot was a result of the failure of police officials in preventing the riots and noted, “It reflects the utter failure on the part of local police in stopping the said procession having no permission. The issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by the senior officers. The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police is not complacent in preventing the illegal activities.”

Police’s latest submissions in the chargesheet

Meanwhile, IE further reports that the police say that the accused (attackers) were active on a Whatsapp group where they shared “hate speech messages against the other community/religion”, and that the group was called “Kabutar Sell Group”. The publication quoted excerpts from the chargesheet as describing content shared on the Kabutar Sell Group as being described by the police as “objectionable and provocative contents to spread hatred and motivate fanatic/ like-minded persons to prepare them to give effect to the conspiracy hatched by them.”

The chargesheet was filed on July 14, and on July 28, the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepika Singh took cognizance of it. The court has issued summons and production warrant against the accused. The next hearing has been listed on 6 August, 2022.

Police have named Tabrez Ansari as the main accused in the case. He allegedly worked closely with his associate Ishrafil, who is still absconding. According to the police they are “involved in political activities and are fanatically communal”.

It was Ishrafil who had organized a function nearby to commemorate the third day after the passing away of his father, and had invited people to partake in refreshments. IE quoted an excerpt from the chargesheet where the police refer to Tabrez and Ishrafil’s plan to avenge the killing of Muslims in the North East Delhi violence of February 2020: “As per the plan, both of them arranged extra fruits and eatables and started inviting local residents there in the teeza (tradition observed on the third day of death),” and that, “Tabrez and his associate recruited others to “take revenge for deaths of their community people during the Northeast Delhi riots”.

However, Advocate Rakesh Kaushik, who appears for six of the accused, has shot down all allegations and told the publication, “This is a false case. There are many defects in the police chargesheet which we will present before the court when the trial commences.”

According to The Quint, the chargesheet names 37 people who have been arrested and eight who are still absconding. Two juveniles have also been mentioned in the chargesheet.

Charges have been filed under Section 307 (attempt to murder), Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy), Section 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), Section 186 IPC (voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his public functions), Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) Section 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), Section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) Section 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) Section 147 (Punishment for rioting) Section 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon) Section 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object) and Section 427 (Mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and under various provisions of Arms Act.

Related:

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The post Jahangirpuri Violence: Delhi Police confirm that Shobha Yatris were armed appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A Delhi court has denied bail to eight accused in connection with the violence that broke out in Jahangirpuri during Hanuman Jayanti procession. In a crucial observation, the Court found that prima facie the case reflected that the local staff of the Jahangirpuri police station, led by inspector Rajiv Ranjan as well as other officials, were accompanying the allegedly illegal procession on its route, instead of stopping it.

The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh, while dismissing the bail application, noted that no ground was made out for grant of bail to the accused. The Court denied bail to Imteyaz, Noor Alam, Sheikh Hamid, Ahmad Ali, Sheikh Hamid, S.K. Sahahada, Sheikh Zakir and Ahir. The FIR was registered under IPC sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 ( Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 436 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc), 307 (Attempt to murder), 120B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy) and sec. 27 (Punishment for using arms, etc) of the Arms Act.

Court’s observation and Order

The Sessions Court presided by Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh noted that the accused persons were identified on the basis of CCTV footage recorded on the day of incident and were also identified by eyewitnesses.

The Court found out from the prosecution’s argument, “The apprehension has been expressed by the prosecution that the public witness will not come forward as the rioters are known criminal of the area. Therefore, the apprehension of threatening/influencing the witness cannot be ruled at this stage, if the accused/applicant is enlarged on bail at this stage. The chargesheet is yet to be filed. The allegations are serious against the accused/applicant.”

The Court further considering the First Information Report (FIR) and the admissions made by the State, noted, “It is fairly admitted by on behalf of the State that the last procession which was passing through during which the unfortunate riots took place was illegal having no prior permission from police. If that was the situation, then the contents of the FIR itself, show that the local staff of police station Jahangir Puri, led by Inspector Rajiv Ranjan as well as other officials from DCP reserve were accompanying the said illegal procession on its route. It appears that local police instead of performing their duty in stopping the said illegal procession in the beginning itself and dispersing the crowd, was accompanying them to the entire route which later on led to unfortunate riots between   the two communities.”

The Court further observed the riot was a result of the failure of police officials in preventing the riots and noted, “It reflects the utter failure on the part of local police in stopping the said procession having no permission. The issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by the senior officers. The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police is not complacent in preventing the illegal activities.”

The Court directed that a copy of the Order be sent to the Commissioner of Police for information and remedial compliance.

The Order may be read here: 

Brief background of the case

Communal clashes allegedly broke out during a procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on April 16. Violence broke out in the area when a religious procession of the majority community made its way past a mosque on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.

Nine people, including eight police personnel, were injured during the violence. It is alleged that procession participants allegedly chanted abusive slogans, entered a mosque during namaz and tried to plant a saffron flag inside.

The violence was followed by an “anti-encroachment drive” in the area. The local civic body, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the drive was launched to clear illegal constructions in the area. But Muslims say their properties were disproportionately targeted and they also questioned the timing of the drive, which continued for an hour after the Supreme Court gave an interim order to stop it.

Related:

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Eye witness account from the broken heart of Jahangirpuri

Jahangirpuri demolition drive: Brinda Karat walks the talk yet again!

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The post Jahangirpuri violence: Delhi Court refuses bail to eight accused appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The “Tiranga Yatra’ on Sunday, was a public appeal for peace and brotherhood. Hindus and Muslims walked together, holding the National Flag, a week after communal clashes sent shockwaves in Jahangirpuri area. Many residents have also lost businesses and have seen their homes and shops demolished in the sudden demolitions that were ordered by the municipal authorities. 

“Bhai chara badana hai, sab ko sikhana hai,” Hindus and Muslims, walked shoulder to shoulder, talking of peace and harmony. The yatra or march gathered strength on

People from two communities gathered and walked along the lanes of the area. They were cheered on by even more people who watched from the sidewalks, windows and roof top. Media and police personnel walked alongside the peace marchers, including children, who waved the national flag  and appealed for peace and harmony. Some told the media that the area has never witnessed any communal clashes before and they were marching to restore the feeling of brotherhood that may have been damaged. Others recalled that they were a part of the Hanuman Jayanti Shobha yatra and were here again on Sunday in solidarity with their Muslim brothers. According to news reports, some carried a portrait of Dr BR Ambedkar. 

People from all communities took out a Tiranga yatra in riot-hit #Jahangirpuri, #Delhi on Sunday. (Video by Gajendra Yadav) pic.twitter.com/FrgNWVdMAl

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 24, 2022

The procession had been announced earlier on Sunday and a buzz had built around it. It was held on Sunday evening amid tight security arrangements.  According to news reports Usha Rangani, DCP North-West, told news agency ANI that the police had “organised a joint peace committee constituting members of both communities. They proposed to organise a ‘tiranga yatra’ in Jahangirpuri and appeal to the people to maintain communal harmony. Fifty people from both communities participated in the yatra.” 

A Tiranga Yatra was carried out by both the communities at #Jahangirpuri New Delhi to promote peace, harmony and equality in the country. @TheCognate_ pic.twitter.com/JoONkpuy8b

— Ghazala Ahmad (@ghazalaahmad5) April 24, 2022

Another news report quoted a local resident Tabrez Khan, who said “We want to live in harmony. We will ensure such incidents are not repeated. We request the police to reduce force and barricade.” another resident Inder Mani Tiwari added “please do not believe in rumours. Communal clashes have happened here for the first time. We must ensure they are not repeated”.

According to a report in India Today, locals showered flower petals and hoisted the national flag on their houses too. Residents of the most affected  “C, B, and D Blocks of the area were also seen sending a message of communal harmony.” stated the report. According to a report in Hindustan Times, “Block C were allowed to exit the block as police lifted some blockades that were earlier put up after the violence broke out.”

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The post Jahangirpuri: Hindu, Muslim citizens take out peace march holding Tricolour appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Students are standing in solidarity with those whose homes and properties were bulldozed, reportedly, without notice in Jahangirpuri. On Thursday, around 150 students of Jamia Millia Islamia carried out a protest march in the university. The protest against coercive demolition of Muslim properties and a mosque at Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, was organised by Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Fraternity Movement, Students Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Association (AISA), All India Revolutionary Students Organization (AIRSO), Campus Front of India (CFI), Muslim Students Federation (MSF) and DISSC.

According to Musaddiq Mubeen, president, SIO Jamia Millia Islamia, the demolition at Jahangirpuri was not an isolated event. “There is a set plan to target Muslims, destroy them economically, as seen across India in the past month, the protest was against this chain of events,” said Mubeen. The students have demanded that the municipal corporation be held responsible for this “illegal act”. They have also asked that the victims of these demolitions be compensated.

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The post Jamia Millia Islamia students protest Jahangirpuri demolitions appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Just days after a demolition drive was carried out in Khargone, purportedly to “punish” the Muslim community for their alleged stone pelting upon a Hindutva procession, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has also planned a demolition drive in Jahangirpuri which had also faced communal violence recently.

However, this drive is being conducted under the guise of getting rid of “encroachments”. What’s more, the municipal authorities have written to the police asking for 400 police personnel including women police officials to be deployed at the spot to maintain law and order during the drive.

A copy of the letter may be read here: 

This is yet another example where in wake of a communal clash, people from one community are being targeted disproportionately compared to the other community. Trouble began on Saturday, April 16, when Bajrang Dal Members who were undertaking a Shobha Yatra on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti reportedly reached the mosque in Jahangirpuri’s Block C at 5 P.M. It is alleged that it was the aggressive Hindutva mob that disturbed peace and harmony by attempting to enter the Jama Masjid in Jahangirpuri. Turned away by an angry lot of Muslim youth they returned with the police and again attempted desecration and attack. At least nine people, including eight policemen were reported injured in the violence that ensued. Some vehicles were also set ablaze.

In the aftermath of the violence, the police arrested 14 Muslims. Though Prem Sharma, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) was also arrested, the police later withdrew their initial statement, citing that Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) is a bailable offence and told the media that “the person who had joined the investigation was let off after questioning.” 

The original statement released to the press said, “A case vide FIR no 441/22 dated 17/04/22 u/s 188 IPC, PS Jahangirpuri has been registered against organisers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal Delhi Prant, Mukherjee Nagar Jila, jhandewalan for carrying out procession (in the evening of 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri ) without any permission and one accused person namely Prem Sharma, Jila Sewa Pramukh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been arrested. Further investigation is in progress.”

But the revised statement said, “A case vide FIR no 441/22 dated 17/04/22 u/s 188 IPC has been registered against organisers for carrying out procession (in the evening of 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri) without any permission and one accused person has joined the investigation. Further investigation is in progress. The other two processions which were carried out in morning and afternoon on 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri had due permission.” The revised statement issued by the police clearly does not name the VHP and the Bajrang Dal all.

It is alleged that it was the VHP, an influential group, that pressured the police to issue a revised statement where no mention of the group was made.

Meanwhile, fresh violence was reported from Jahangirpuri on Monday. According to multiple news reports another “incident of stone-pelting was reported from the area”. According to a report in India Today, after a woman was taken for interrogation in connection with Saturday’s clash, around 50 women in the area began protesting and allegedly threw stones in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on Monday.

“The woman detained by the police on Monday is the wife of accused Sonu, who allegedly opened fire during the clash on Saturday. After she was taken for police interrogation, stones were pelted from the rooftops of different homes on Monday,” reported IT, adding that one person has been detained. According to this report the Deputy Commissioner of Police North-West Delhi Usha Rangrani, said that the “ family members of Sonu, who is absconding at present, pelted two stones at the police when they went to his house in search of him.” Now, police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have reportedly cordoned off the area.

Now, the air is once again rife with tension with the impending demolition drive. The matter was placed before the Supreme Court which has ordered that status quo be maintained for now and listed the case for Thursday.

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Jahangirpuri Violence: 14 Arrested, all from the minority community, main accused a minor?

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Fresh violence reported from Jahangirpuri

Jahangirpuri: “Peace” on the ground, but what about the fear in the hearts?

How will Delhi Police respond to VHP’s threat?

The post Now a demolition drive in Jahangirpuri? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a dangerous open challenge to Delhi Police, that comes under the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had directed the force to take strict action against those accused in the Jahangirpuri violence, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Monday reportedly threatened to launch “a battle” against the Police. According to a report in Times of India the VHP has issued this threat of ‘a battle’ if any “action is taken against its activists in connection with the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri.”

The VHP threat was seemingly in response to the news that the Delhi Police had registered an FIR against the Shobha Yatra organisers for taking the procession out without permission. On Monday, police had arrested a man named Prem Sharma, who is ‘a local VHP leader’. However, the police later withdrew its initial statement, citing that Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) is a bailable offence and told the media that “the person who had joined the investigation was let off after questioning.” Northwest Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Usha Rangnani said that an “FIR was registered against organisers for carrying out a procession on Saturday evening in the area without permission and one accused person has joined the investigation.” 

First these details are shared with media agencies: “A case vide FIR no 441/22 dated 17/04/22 u/s 188 IPC, PS Jahangirpuri has been registered against organisers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal Delhi Prant, Mukherjee Nagar Jila, jhandewalan for carrying out procession (in the evening of 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri ) without any permission and one accused person namely Prem Sharma, Jila Sewa Pramukh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has been arrested. Further investigation is in progress.”

Then came this revised version: “A case vide FIR no 441/22 dated 17/04/22 u/s 188 IPC has been registered against organisers for carrying out procession (in the evening of 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri) without any permission and one accused person has joined the investigation. Further investigation is in progress. The other two processions which were carried out in morning and afternoon on 16/04/22 in the area of PS Jahangirpuri had due permission.” The revised statement issued by the police clearly does not name the VHP and the Bajrang Dal all.

According to the TOI report, the VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal lashed out at the Delhi police and said the force had “done a big blunder” referring to the reported FIR being registered against VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, and one their members being “arrested.” He reportedly called the police claim that the procession was taken out by the organisers without permission as “absurd” and added that “it seems police have bowed down before “Islamic jihadis” adding “If there was no permission, how police personnel in such a large number were accompanying the yatra (procession)?” Bansal claimed that the VHP is “a law-abiding organisation” and will not “tolerate” such an allegation, stated the news report.

He then went on to launch what seems to be an open threat to the most powerful police force in the country as it directly reports to the MHA. “VHP will launch a battle if they (police) try to lodge a false case or pick any of its activists,” he said.  Bansal also reportedly accused the Delhi Police of “high handedness”, saying “all of a sudden, it withdrew a permission granted to a procession which was scheduled to be taken out on Monday. Also, yesterday in the morning, police forcefully stopped a yatra (procession), taken out from Bhalswa village, about 100 metres before the point where it was scheduled to conclude. What is this?”

Interestingly on April 16, the VHP had claimed that there was an “aggression on Hindus” and that it was an “international Jihadi Conspiracy,” and the accused should be booked under NSA.

Press Statement:
Aggression on Hindus is Int’l Jihadi Conspiracy, book the attackers under NSA: @drskj01 pic.twitter.com/wbIzDZxcRh

— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) April 16, 2022

According to a report in Asianetnews VHP Delhi unit president Kapil Khanna claimed they had permission to take out the shobha yatra on Saturday, “Our yatra was peaceful. We had no weapons. If any unlawful action is taken against our activists or frames them, we will not tolerate that. We will resort to legal options. On Monday  Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana had also said “those involved in the clashes, irrespective of their class, creed and religion, will not be spared.” 

#दिल्ली_पुलिस #जहांगीरपुरी की घटना में बिना किसी भेदभाव के जांच कर रही है, जो भी अभियुक्त इस घटना में संलिप्त है उसके खिलाफ सख़्त कानूनी कार्रवाई की जाएगी। #Jahangirpuri #DelhiPoliceUpdates @CPDelhi pic.twitter.com/Owz33MKZTP

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 18, 2022

सोशल मीडिया, वीडियो फुटेज आदि की जांच हर दृष्टि से जारी है। घटना में संलिप्त कोई भी आरोपी चाहे प्रत्यक्ष अथवा परोक्ष रूप से जुड़ा है, जांच के बाद उसके खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई की जाएगी।#Jahangirpuri #DelhiPoliceUpdates @CPDelhi pic.twitter.com/tsAqnKAoHL

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) April 18, 2022

It was late Monday evening, that the Delhi Police also arrested 28-year-old Imam alias Sonu, accused of firing a gun during the violence. Police told the media that Sonu was identified from the video widely circulated on social media and was arrested from the Mangal Bazaar road in the district. According to the news report police said “a sophisticated pistol was recovered from his possession.”

A Fact finding report of the Left parties spoke of police inaction 

Soon after clashes broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday, a fact finding team of the Left parties (CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), Forward Block) visited the affected areas of Jahangirpuri-C block on April 17. The delegation met with members of both Hindu and Muslim communities, from around 50 households. They also met the Additional DCP  Kishen Kumar at the Jahangirpuri police station. According to the fact finding report released to the media on Monday, there were three processions taken out in the area on April 16, to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti. 

According to the team, “Bystanders said they saw pistols and swords being waved by the processionists which is confirmed by videos shown on various TV channels. Loud and aggressive slogans were being given. The team was informed that this was not a procession organised by local people, but was organised by the youth wing of the Bajrang Dal with most from outside the area.” They were also told that “the procession was accompanied by two police jeeps.” 

Veteran leader Brinda Karat, member, Polit Bureau of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and with K. M. Tewari, Secretary, Delhi State Committee of CPI(M) have also written to the Delhi Police Commissioner, on the “role of the police in the wholly avoidable incidents of violence of a communal nature that occurred in Jahangirpuri on April 16th.” According to the letter, there is “conclusive evidence that the procession taken out by members of the youth wing of the Bajrang Dal was armed with several men carrying naked swords, lathis and also shockingly firearms. These weapons were openly flaunted and brandished during the procession. The police have stated that the procession had police permission. Did the police give permission to carry arms? In fact the processionists who carried arms had clearly violated the Arms Act which has stringent provisions of imprisonment for such violations.”

It puts on record that “there have never been incidents of a communal nature in this area earlier. Two communities have lived together in harmony. This is further evidence that the events were manufactured by outsiders in the procession in the name of shobha yatra.” The letter appeal to the CP to “take action against the police personnel (1) who allowed the procession to carry weapons (2) who were responsible for lack of adequate arrangements (3) who permitted the procession to stop in front of the mosque (4) who are conducting a one sided biassed investigation.” 

Related:

Fresh violence reported from Jahangirpuri
Jahangirpuri: “Peace” on the ground, but what about the fear in the hearts?
Hanuman Jayanti procession participants hoist flag on Gujarat dargah 
Jahangirpuri Violence: 14 Arrested, all from the minority community, main accused a minor?
Mob sets three houses ablaze in Agra over interfaith relationship
Karnataka: Muslim man beaten up for travelling with Hindu woman
Delhi Violence: Shifa-Ur-Rehman denied bail again in UAPA case
In 6 years, Centre sanctioned scholarships worth ₹ 15,785.36 cr

The post How will Delhi Police respond to VHP’s threat? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Delhi Police arrested local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Prem Sharma, for carrying out the Hanuman Jayanti procession without permission on April 16, 2022, said the Hindustan Times. This same procession was caught on camera brandishing weapons and swords and eventually engaged in violent clashes in Jahangirpuri area.

Around eight police officers and one civilian suffered injuries during stone-pelting on Saturday evening. DCP North West Usha Rangnani told the newspaper that a case was registered under Section 188 of the IPC at the local police station on Sunday against Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal Delhi Prant organisers. Meanwhile, Indian Today reported that 14 people were arrested and another 10 people were detained by the police following the conflict in the region. It may be noted that a majority of these were Muslims even though the violence occurred in a Muslim-dominated area near a masjid.

The booked Sharma is a VHP district-level cadre and is facing investigation from the police. Yet, the ones who are arrested for allegedly firing at the procession is a minor boy Aslam. According to the India Today, a pistol was recovered from the youth who is claimed to be a history-sheeter. Along with him two more key accused Mukhtar and Khodu were arrested.

There are no reports regarding the detainment of those procession members who were caught on-camera and on CCTV, brandishing swords and guns in their hands. The same was pointed out by four-time Delhi Congress MLA Mukesh Sharma who demanded that the police arrest those who entered the minority-dominated with weapons in hand as seen on Aaj Tak and even India Today coverage.

जहांगीरपुरी मे “भगवा गमछा” पहन कर “तलवार लहराते” हुए “जुलूस निकालने” वालों को भी “गिरफ्तार” करो! pic.twitter.com/AfUEPVpthY

— Mukesh Sharma (@MukeshSharmaMLA) April 17, 2022

Netizens appreciated the Opposition’s efforts to call out this bias within the police execution.

ऐसे निर्भीक साफ बोलने वाले ही देश को जगा सकते है, Salute @MukeshSharmaMLA जी.!!https://t.co/13g1ZaCU4W

— Asim Munna (@AsimMunna4) April 18, 2022

According to the Hindustan Times, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana refuted claims of attempts to hoist saffron flags at the mosque and asked people not to fall prey to rumour-mongering. Further, during a media briefing, Asthana asserted that those involved in violent clashes will not be spared irrespective of class, creed or religion.

Related:

Fresh violence reported from Jahangirpuri
Jahangirpuri: “Peace” on the ground, but what about the fear in the hearts?
Hanuman Jayanti procession participants hoist flag on Gujarat dargah 
Jahangirpuri Violence: 14 Arrested, all from the minority community, main accused a minor?
Mob sets three houses ablaze in Agra over interfaith relationship
Karnataka: Muslim man beaten up for travelling with Hindu woman
Delhi Violence: Shifa-Ur-Rehman denied bail again in UAPA case
In 6 years, Centre sanctioned scholarships worth ₹ 15,785.36 cr

The post Delhi police books VHP leader for illegal rally at Jahangirpuri appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Fresh violence was reported from Jahangirpuri on Monday. According to multiple news reports, another “incident of stone-pelting was reported from the area”. According to a report in India Today, after a woman was taken for interrogation in connection with Saturday’s clash, around 50 women in the area began protesting and allegedly threw stones in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on Monday.

“The woman detained by the police on Monday is the wife of accused Sonu, who allegedly opened fire during the clash on Saturday. After she was taken for police interrogation, stones were pelted from the rooftops of different homes on Monday,” reported IT, adding that one person has been detained. According to this report, the Deputy Commissioner of Police North-West Delhi Usha Rangrani, said that the “family members of Sonu, who is absconding at present, pelted two stones at the police when they went to his house in search of him.” Now, police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have reportedly cordoned off the area.

According to a report in Indian Express, Rangrani said, “A video was being circulated on Sunday on social media showing a man (in blue kurta) opening fire during the riot in the Jahangirpuri area on April 16. A Police team from the northwest district had gone to his house in CD Park Road to look for him and to question his family members. The family members pelted two stones on them in retaliation. Legal action is being taken. One person has been detained and the situation is completely under control now.” 

Fact finding team of the Left parties report talks of police inaction 

Soon after clashes broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday, a fact finding team of the Left parties [CPI (M), CPI, CPI (ML), and Forward Block] visited the affected areas of Jahangirpuri-C block on April 17. The delegation met with members of both Hindu and Muslim communities, in around  50 households. They also met the Additional DCP Kishen Kumar at the Jahangirpuri police station. According to the fact finding report released to the media on Monday, there were three processions taken out in the area on April 16, to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti. Since afternoon that day “a group of 150 to 200 people armed with weapons in their hands and loud DJ music were roaming in processions” stated the fact finding report, adding that the men in these processions were reportedly “raising slogans in the streets of Jahangirpuri”.

According to the team, “Bystanders said they saw pistols and swords being waved by the processionists which is confirmed by videos shown on various TV channels. Loud and aggressive slogans were being given. The team was informed that this was not a procession organised by local people, but was organised by the youth wing of the Bajrang Dal with most from outside the area.” They were also told that “the procession was accompanied by two police jeeps” however “each jeep had only two personnel”. 

“Why did the police not make adequate arrangements? Why did the police allow open arms to be carried in the procession?” asked the fact finding team. These processions reportedly made two rounds of Block C Jahangirpuri where most residents are Bengali speaking Muslims. Nothing untoward happened in those two rounds of the Hanuman Jayanti procession, it was in the third round that violence broke out. The fact finders questioned the theory of an alleged “conspiracy” by the local Muslim residents to attack the procession and stated that if this was the case “the attacks would have taken place earlier.”

“The fact is that the incidents occurred when the procession stopped outside a mosque at the exact time when those who were keeping roza were gathering at the mosque for the prayer,” stated the report. “Why was the procession allowed to stop there? Why were slogans allowed just outside the mosque? In other words an armed procession is given licence to stop outside the mosque shouting slogans at the exact time when roza is to end and when a crowd of Muslims had gathered. If these incidents are to be described as a conspiracy—it is this which is the conspiracy in which the police itself has a responsibility,” it added. 

The team was also told that “there was stone-pelting which started from both sides” and that “there was a fear among the residents near that area that the processionists would enter the mosque and that the police were not taking any action.” The fact finding team also saw remains of arson such as some cars and motorbikes which had been burnt. A shop belonging to a Hindu was looted” and “was informed that the police who came to the spot were caught in the cross stone pelting and some suffered injuries.” 

According to the team, locals have alleged that “police conducted raids in the area making indiscriminate arrests” at night on April 16, and “when women tried to find out from the police why their homes were being raided, male police punched them in the stomach and beat them.”

The team that went to the police station also saw Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta, Hansraj Hans MP “addressing a press conference inside the police station premises in the presence of police officials. Around them were people shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans.” They ask, “Does this not clearly show the partiality of the police? The team found that in the entire area, there was no confidence in the police and that it was a completely one-sided, prejudiced inquiry influenced by BJP leaders.” 

The Left parties have appealed to the citizens to stand up for unity and “not to let the plans of the RSS-BJP succeed in any way. They have opted to divert popular attention from the economic impasse faced by the country and the livelihood crisis of the people by spreading communal discord.” They have asked that the Home Ministry and the President “immediately intervene to reverse the partiality of the Delhi Police” and that “The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi should immediately intervene, breaking his silence.”

The fact finding report may be read here: 

The CPI (M) Delhi has also called for a protest against those “instigating communal violence and spoiling mutual brotherhood”. The protest will be held on April 

19, at 11 A.M at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

Related:

Jahangirpuri: “Peace” on the ground, but what about the fear in the hearts?

Hanuman Jayanti procession participants hoist flag on Gujarat dargah 

Jahangirpuri Violence: 14 Arrested, all from the minority community, main accused a minor?

Mob sets three houses ablaze in Agra over interfaith relationship

Karnataka: Muslim man beaten up for travelling with Hindu woman

Delhi Violence: Shifa-Ur-Rehman denied bail again in UAPA case

In 6 years, Centre sanctioned scholarships worth ₹ 15,785.36 cr

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