Delhi Police on Thursday began its arguments on framing of charges against accused persons in the larger conspiracy of Delhi riots 2020. It was submitted that Delhi riots were a result of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament on December 4, 2019.
The Karkardooma Court started hearing arguments on charges against the accused persons, namely Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Tahir Hussain, Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Ishrat Jahan, Meran Haider, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and others.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad, during his submissions, also referred to the charge sheet and contended that in this entire conspiracy, there were various organisations like Pinjra Tod, AAZMI, SIO, SFI, etc., through individuals that participated in protests and violent activities.
The prosecution referred to WhatsApp groups, chats, and witness statements to support their claims. He also referred to the statements of witnesses.
The conspiracy aimed to disrupt the city by holding protests and chakka jaam (road blockages) in Muslim-majority areas, leading to violence against police and non-Muslims. As part of the conspiracy, 23 protest sites (against CAB) were created in Muslim majority areas.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai adjourned the further arguments by Delhi police till Friday. The court has listed the bail application of Saleem Khan for hearing on Monday.
During his arguements, SPP Amit Prasad submitted that there was a conspiracy to disrupt the city by holding disruptive Chakka jaam in Delhi that would lead to violence.
Earlier, it was also submitted that before the riots of February 2020, another riot took place in December 2019 on a lower scale but with similar characters and modus operandi.
SPP also submitted that the protest was not organic but was created under a planned conspiracy and given the facade of an organic protest.
He also stated that the conspiracy with Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalidformation of JACT, DPSG, and JCC and other aspects mentioned in the charge sheet. It was also submitted by him that not only was the protest shown to be secular and organic but also women-driven.
It was also argued that the sequence of events clearly shows how everything was planned, organised, and well thought of. The women and children from Jahangir Puri to Jafrabad via Shaheen Bagh. The date was intentionally chosen when Donald Trump, President of the United States of America,, was to come to Delhi.
Delhi Police also cited the DPSG WhatsApp chat to highlight the conduct of the accused persons during and after the riots, including the flurry of calls and deletion of the group.
Statements of various witnesses, including protected witnesses, were read along with the major aspects of the charge sheet, including the conspiratorial meetings, to highlight how the riots were engineered by completely blocking the entry and exist point for the North East Delhi.
The video shows how the CCTV cameras installed in the Chand Bagh area were systematically dislocated so that the footage of riots could not be found.
The prosecution has already alleged that the conspiracy began after the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) by the Cabinet on 04.12.2019. It continued to develop and culminated in the horrific riots on 24th February 2020 in North-East Delhi. The first person who acts after 4th of December 2019 is accused Sharjeel Imam when Muslims Students of JNU is formed on 05/06 December 2019 and propagates the idea of disruptive chakkajam.
It has also been alleged that in the night of 5/6.2019, a WhatsApp group of Muslim Students of JNU were formed with Sharjeel Imam being its main member. Umar Khalid was also a member of the said group.
It is also alleged that United Against Hate (UAH) organised a protest at Jantar Mantar on 07.12.2019, and Sharjeel Imam joined the protest. Sharjeel Imam wanted to rope in students of Jamia, DU, AMU, etc. UAH conducted an agitation at Jantar Mantar on 7.12.2019, which was attended by Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Yogender Yadav and others.
As per prosecution, idea of chakkajam emerges here. Though stated, it is an inference of prosecution only that Umar Khalid introduced Sharjeel Imam to Yogender Yadav.
After the said meeting, Sharjeel Imam posted a message on 07.12.2019 on core members of MSJ regarding media collaboration, call, and protest. On 07.12.2019 itself, Sharjeel Imam had a chat with Arshad Warsi (SOJ) regarding a big mobilisation. A meeting took place at the Jungpura office on 08.12.2019, which was attended among others by Yogender Yadav, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel, and Khalid Saifi.
It is also alleged that Nadeem Khan and Sharjeel Imam were in continuous touch with each other. Sharjeel Imam visited Aligarh Muslim University on 11.12.2019, propounding chakkajam, and he created another WhatsApp group, Muslim Students of JNU_1, on 12/13.12.2019.
Sharjeel directed members of MSJ to reach Jamia University to support Parliament March (call given by Asif Iqbal Tanha) on 13.12.2019. Sharjeel Imam gave a seditious speech at Jamia and asked for a disruptive chakkajam, which included disruption and stoppage of supply of water and milk to Delhi. Consequently, violence/riots took place, and an FIR was registered. Police station Jamia Nagar was also registered.
In the said violence, there was an attack on police personnel and damage to public property and arson. Various other incidents of riots took place in Delhi in the month of December 2019. This pattern of riots consequent to the initial speech of Sharjeel Imam took place in Delhi, and various FIRs in south-east Delhi and even north-east Delhi were registered in December 2019.
Chakkajam also began consequent to a meeting of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, and others on 13.12.2019 at Jamia Campus. The said chakkajam was then to spread to the other parts of Delhi, police have alleged.
As per the statement of protected witness bond Umar Khalid, Sharjeel, Saiful Islam and Asif Tanha had come to Jamia University campus on 13.12.2019. In his presence, Umar Khalid said in front of all the protesters that Sharjeel, Saiful, and Asif are his brothers and members of his team. Umar Khalid said that he has explained to them the difference between chakkajam and dharna.
Umar told Sharjeel to start chakkajam at Shaheen Bagh, Asif, and Saiful and to start chakkajam at Gate No. 7 of Jamia University. Umar Khalid said that at the right time, they will also start chakkajam in other Muslim areas of Delhi.
Umar further said that government is a Hindu government and against Muslims and they have to overthrow the government and will do so at the right time.
On 16.12.2019, Umar Khalid (accompanied by Saiful and Asif) and Nadeem Khan came to AAJMI’s office, and in his presence, Umar said to Saiful and Asif that the Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) be set up.
Nadeem Khan said that JCC will lead protests and chakkajam in Delhi. Asif and Saiful were agreed to the said suggestions and JCC was formed.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
