[Delhi Riots] Blame 'deflected' towards Bhim Army: Prosecution in bail hearing of Umar Khalid, others

Contesting the bail application of Umar Khalid and others in a Delhi Riots case, the prosecution argued on Wednesday that the accused “deflected” the blame towards Chandrashekhar Azad's Bhim Army and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Kapil Mishra [State v. Umar Khalid & Ors].

Relying on the purported WhatsApp chats exchanged among the accused, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat,

“What is important is one side we have seen you say that after the call of Bhim Army there is escalation...Deflection. Then complaint against Kapil Mishra...First front Bhim Army and second front you are opening is Kapil Mishra."

The prosecutor also pointed out how some of the participants of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) had continuously urged others to de-escalate.

Relying on a statement, Prasad claimed that for the protestors, blocking the roads was the first strategy, whereas the next phase was supposed to be “confrontational”.

“What more evidence of violence does one need?” he asked.

Responding to the query put forth by the Court on the last hearing, the prosecutor said,

“Very relevant question came from court. What is difference between bandh, dharna, protests, chakra jam and disruptive chakra jam?” noted Prasad.

Referring to the Bhim Army’s call for a Bharat bandh, Prasad said,

“Then dharna…. I go and sit there. Protest? I raise my protest against a particular thing. Chakka jam is where you stop the wheels. No movement of vehicles. Disruptive chakka jam will come within the ambit of what is being planned here...We will disrupt everything moving there. We will allow nothing, police, ambulance.”

The Court was also shown CCTV footage of the Chandbagh area of North-East Delhi, where the murder of head constable Rattan Lal took place. The prosecutor sought to demonstrate how protesters mobilised in the area and went ahead to “divert and dislocate” CCTV cameras.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.

The seven accused persons - Umar Khalid, Meeran Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Saleem Malik, Sharjeel Imam, Shadab Ahmed and Khalid Saifi - are facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act besides criminal conspiracy, rioting, murder and attempt to murder charges among others.

[Read a live account of today's hearing]