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Delhi 2020 religious riots: Amnesty International accuses police of rights abuses

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Indian police "committed serious human rights violations" during deadly religious riots in Delhi earlier this year, Amnesty International alleges.

It said police beat protesters, tortured detainees and at times took part in riots with Hindu mobs.

More than 40 people died when clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims over a controversial citizenship law. Muslims bore the brunt, Amnesty said.

The Delhi police are yet to respond to Amnesty's request for a response.

The investigation corroborates the BBC's reporting on incidents of police brutality and complicity during the riots in February, the deadliest in the city for decades. The police denied any wrongdoing.

Analysis box by Yogita Limaye, India correspondent

Some of the top findings of the Amnesty report mirror the BBC's investigation into the Delhi police's role in the violence.

Videos had emerged on social media and messaging groups from the Khajuri Khas area in north-east Delhi, in which police are seen acting with a mob and throwing stones. We investigated these videos by gathering eyewitness testimony from both communities.

One shopkeeper alleged that police gave stones to him and other Hindus to throw at Muslims over the road. Bhoora Khan, a Muslim whose home and shop across the street were burnt down, also alleged the police acted with Hindus against Muslims.

We also investigated another set of videos that showed a group of policemen brutally beating a Muslim man, Faizan. The man died a few days later. His brother Naeem told me Faizan succumbed to the injuries he suffered at the hands of the police.

While the Delhi police didn't initially respond to the BBC's request for a reply, after the report aired, they told BBC Hindi they would look into what is seen in these videos. But many, including Amnesty, are asking how the police can be trusted to investigate allegations against their own men.

The Amnesty report says that while Hindus also suffered losses, Muslims were disproportionately targeted in the riots.

"The riot that seemed far from spontaneous saw almost three times the number of Muslim casualties compared to Hindus. Muslims also bore the brunt of loss of business and property," it said.

"The percentage may be lower but establishments and homes owned by Hindus were not left completely untouched," it added.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - which critics say is anti-Muslim - sparked massive protests across India after it was passed last year.

One such demonstration in Delhi turned violent - clashes broke out between protesters for and against the law.

The violence soon took religious overtones and the rioting continued for three days, with Muslim homes and shops being targeted by violent mobs.

The report says its forensic analysis of videos from the rioting supports the conclusion that the police stood by, allowing rioters to wreak havoc in some places.

It also alleges that hate speeches by right-wing leaders sparked the riots - but notes that the police have taken no action against them.

On the other hand, it says, police have arrested civil rights activists, teachers and students, most of them Muslim.

"Not even a single political leader that made hate speeches, which advocated violence in the build-up to the riots has been prosecuted," it said.

The report recommends an independent inquiry into the allegations.

"As the Delhi police investigate who is responsible for the riots, there have been no investigations till now into the human rights violations committed by the Delhi police during the riots," says the report.
Several other reports have also raised questions over police conduct during the riots. A report by the Delhi Minorities Commission also alleged that the police allowed Muslim homes and shops to be targeted by mobs.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53891354
 
Amnesty isa NGO. Nothing more. It itself under investigation since last few years fir foreign exchange violations and for supporting Maoists and naxals in India. Anything they say has little value.

The confession of Tahir Hussain has revealed that he planned the riots but it later spiralled out of his control.

BBC says that muslims suffered more damage. Well the demographics is such that in most areas muslims will be outnumbered and hence while they suffered in non muslim majority areas, hindus suffered in muslim majority areas.

This has been the case in every riot in India.
 
So anything anyone says to disprove the BJP narrative cannot be believed.

Shameless that people are being murdered in the name of democracy in India. Absolutely shamless.
 
So anything anyone says to disprove the BJP narrative cannot be believed.

Shameless that people are being murdered in the name of democracy in India. Absolutely shamless.

A NGO which is being prosecuted for subversive activities and has acted in violation of law cannot be believed.

Murdered in the name of democracy?

Hindu Muslim riots have happened in India for centuries if not more. Happened in British rule, happened during partition, has happened since then as well. The demographics of victims have had a similar trend in all of them. Nothing to do with BJP.
 
Amnesty isa NGO. Nothing more. It itself under investigation since last few years fir foreign exchange violations and for supporting Maoists and naxals in India. Anything they say has little value.

The confession of Tahir Hussain has revealed that he planned the riots but it later spiralled out of his control.

BBC says that muslims suffered more damage. Well the demographics is such that in most areas muslims will be outnumbered and hence while they suffered in non muslim majority areas, hindus suffered in muslim majority areas.

This has been the case in every riot in India.

Amnesty has more credibility than Indian media.

If you don't take Amnesty seriously, you should also not take Indian media seriously.
 
Amnesty has more credibility than Indian media.

If you don't take Amnesty seriously, you should also not take Indian media seriously.

Amnesty’s credibility will come to question for you when you read about their issues in Turkey, go read them first and then tell us if you think they are credible or your Erdogan is.
 
A NGO which is being prosecuted for subversive activities and has acted in violation of law cannot be believed.

Murdered in the name of democracy?

Hindu Muslim riots have happened in India for centuries if not more. Happened in British rule, happened during partition, has happened since then as well. The demographics of victims have had a similar trend in all of them. Nothing to do with BJP.

BJP walas were being prosecuted before they came to power and now we have Sadvis fighting elections...

Let BJP fall and case against them be open it will automatically become credible then.
 
Amnesty’s credibility will come to question for you when you read about their issues in Turkey, go read them first and then tell us if you think they are credible or your Erdogan is.

Classic attempt at hiding shameful truths. Why dont you look at xyz type argument at its best.

Sharam karro bhai.
 
Delhi riots case: Police file over 17,000-page charge sheet, name 15 people

The Delhi Police has named fifteen people as accused in charge sheet filed over the violence that took place in national capital in February this year. The accused have been named for orchestrating the riots that killed at least 53 people and injured hundreds.

Out of the 21 persons arrested so far, police charge-sheeted 15 accused based on scientific, documentary and testimonial evidence gathered during investigation. The remaining 6 persons are expected to be charge sheeted in due course after collecting sufficient evidence and completing statutory and procedural requirements, police said in a statement.

The charge sheet filed by Delhi police special cell at Karkardooma Court is over 17,000 pages. Packed in steel boxes, 2,692 pages of the vast charge sheet specifies the charges against the accused whereas the rest pages include the annexure.

Among those named in the charge sheet are Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Ishrat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Safoora Zargar and Khalif Saifi.

In February, Delhi was shaken up with communal riots, worst in at least three decade, with clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups in several parts of the city. Houses were burnt and broken into, while vehicles were set on fire.

It all started as clashes between pro- and anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act groups,but further escalated into communal violence with rioters from both communities, taking to streets armed with swords, stones and guns.

The fifteen people named in the charge sheet have been accused under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, IPC and Arms Act. For the investigation in the case, the police on Wednesday said they are relying on WhatsApp chats and call records. Twenty-five Whatsapp groups were created for each of the protest sites, police said.

“There was an impression that it was an anti- CAA protest but conspirators were being guided through the protest sites,” said police.

The charge sheet filed by police on Wednesday does not name Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as accused in Delhi riots case.

Umar and Sharjeel were arrested a few days ago and their names will be in the supplementary charge sheet.

- Delhi Police registered 751 cases -

In connection with the riots that took place in Delhi, police received over 16,000 PCR calls and registered a total of 751 cases.

Of 751 cases, 59 cases were assigned to SIT constituted in the Crime Branch, 691 cases were investigated by the district police and one case, which was registered on March 6, 2020 to investigate the larger conspiracy behind these riots, was assigned to the Special Cell, police said in a statement.

In order to investigate specific offences committed during these riots, police has seized 12 pistols, 121 empty cartridges, 92 live cartridges, 61 glass bottles filled with noxious chemicals and an assortment of sharp-edged weapons in the matter.

- Took 195 days to complete first phase of investigation -

Further in the statement, police said that it took 195 days for Delhi police’s special cell to complete the first phase of investigation, during which, 747 witnesses were questioned.

Police has seized at least 75 electronic devices as part of the probe.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...s-15-people/story-rM0CIS1I68oZtYRHiLV3xL.html
 
‘Fear for Life’: Delhi Riots Protected Witnesses Identity Revealed

The identities of 15 of the ‘protected witnesses’ who provided statements in the Delhi riots ‘conspiracy’ charge sheet have been revealed in documents that are accessible to the accused, The Quint has confirmed.

Speaking to this reporter, two protected witnesses said they were shocked and in disbelief that this lapse has taken place and added that this puts a very real threat to their life. One of them even claimed to have no knowledge of being a protected witness.

We also spoke to senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, one of India’s foremost criminal law experts, to understand the nature of this procedural lapse and what would or should be done going ahead.

This story also includes the response of the Delhi Police to The Quint, who has accepted that ‘a court-related document containing the identities of some of these witnesses has been inadvertently included in the copies of the charge-sheet’.

Protected Witnesses ‘Stunned’ by Lapse

Not only has the name of protected witnesses been revealed, but also the addresses and pseudo names.

X* (name changed to protect identity) said that it was at huge personal risk that he got out of the house and went to be interrogated by the Delhi Police to begin with.

“I would keeping getting odd calls in the middle of the night, people would ask for my name and other details, I would keep switching my phone off and blocking their numbers. The case is a very sensitive one with various stakeholders. During this interrogation lots of people have turned their backs on each other. It was at a huge personal risk that I even went for the interrogations. There was a reason it was supposed to be kept a secret. I am shocked that they have revealed my identity. I do not trust this system at all,” X said, adding that this means there will be a ‘serious threat to life and movement’ for him now.

“If you’re making me a protected witness, then how can the top agency of the state make such a huge mistake? This changes things for me in the future in a very real way. What was the point at all then of making me a protected witness, you could have just revealed my identity to begin with. Still thinking of taking legal action, things like this take a lot of time. Either way I am going to be targeted, so what is the point of legal action. I do not know yet.”

Another protected witness called Y* (name changed to protect identity) said he did not even know he is a protected witness. He added, “They never approached me regarding this or asked for my consent before putting my name as a witness. I am rather surprised. Personally also this will change everything and the trouble for me will increase. People will now target me, it could also be a physical attempt of an attack. They can come and harm me any day.”

Threat to Safety’ Brought up in Application and Court Order

The application from the prosecution for protecting the witnesses’ identity had expressly raised concerns over the safety of the witnesses, and hence said they needed to be protected, stating:

The following witnesses have expressed fear for their lives from the accused personas as they are residing/working in the same locality or they are known to each other, some of them giving in writing about their threat to safety.

It is requested that identity of the above mentioned public witnesses with pseudo names, mentioned against their names, be kept confidential during the proceedings of this case as per section 44 of the UAPA. The truncated statements of above witnesses under section 161 and 164 of CrPC may please be ratified for the purpose of investigation and subsequent trial.

The court order granting the application had agreed with this, holding:

Considering the nature of the instance case, I concur with the Ld. Public Prosecutor that there is a genuine apprehension regarding the safety and security of the public witnesses in the instant matter. In view of the same, the application is allowed.

Have the Police Broken the Law Here? What Punishment Could They Face?

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra explained that apart from obviously endangering the witnesses, this was also clearly an offence under Section 44(3)(c) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Section 17 of the NIA Act, which deal with protection of witnesses.

“The release of their names, despite the existence of this order is a breach of law punishable under Section 44 of UAPA and Section 17 of the NIA Act. While the prosecution had no option but to send the application to the court by law, they should have made an application for keeping the details in the sealed cover.” Sidharth Luthra, senior advocate at Supreme Court

Speaking about the procedure involved, Luthra added, “Whenever we have appeared as prosecutors for cases under NIA, whenever we want identities protected, we give the judge original statements but the accused are given truncated statements and the request is made to keep those statements in sealed covers with names and identities. It is inappropriate that they have released the name of their own protected witnesses. That is an unfortunate lapse on their part.”

The relevant sections of UAPA under Section 44 on ‘protection of witnesses’ read:

a) the holding of the proceedings at a place to be decided by the court
b) the avoiding of the mention of the name and address of the witness in its orders or judgments or in any records of the case accessible to public
c) the issuing of any directions for securing that the identity and address of the witness are not disclosed
d) a decision that it is in the public interest to order that all or any of the proceedings pending before such a court shall not be published in any manner [emphasis added]

Section 44 also states the punishment for not following the law:

Any person, who contravenes any decision or direction issued under sub-section (3), shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine. [emphasis added]

Delhi Police: Steps Being Taken to Ensure Safety of Protected Witnesses

The Quint has reached out to the Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava, Delhi Police PRO Eish Singhal and Special Cell DCP Pramod Kushwaha for comment.

Delhi Police additional PRO Anil Mittal responded to The Quint’s queries and said:

Delhi Police Special Cell had filed a charge-sheet in case FIR 59/2020 PS Crime Branch relating to the riots in north-east Delhi in February 2020. During the course of investigation, it was deemed necessary that the identities of some witnesses should not be disclosed in the public domain. However, a court-related document containing the identities of some of these witnesses has been inadvertently included in the copies of the charge-sheet provided to the accused persons as part of compliance of judicial orders.

Since the witnesses are court-protected, their identities should not be published. Media is requested to cooperate in this matter. However, steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of these witnesses and to address all concerns in this regard.

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/delhi-riots-protected-witness-identity-revealed-delhi-police
 
Amnesty International, where are you as Hindus live in utter fear for their lives?

Say something.
Show some humanity you two faced snakes.
 
Amnesty International, where are you as Hindus live in utter fear for their lives?

Say something.
Show some humanity you two faced snakes.
All these organisations control by USA. Why will they released the statement or condemned when they were behind this coup.
 
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