[Muslim men being beaten, forced to sing National Anthem] Perpetrators could not be identified because of helmets, efforts on: Police to Delhi HC

The Delhi Police has informed the Delhi High Court that it is making sincere efforts to identify the alleged police personnel who, during the riots of February 2020, brutally assaulted five Muslim men while forcing them to sing the national anthem (Kismatum vs State)..It stated that based on the still images taken from the viral video, further investigation was being focused on the shortlisted police personnel.."The still images of the policemen assaulting Faizan were developed ..and have further been shared with the In-charges of Districts / Units / Outer Force, whose personnel were performing law & order duty in the area of North-East District on the date & time of incident. The process is still continued. Further investigation has been focused on the shortlisted police personnel...sincere efforts are being made to identify the alleged police personnel involved in assaulting Faizan and others. The investigation of the present case is being carried out in a very professional and fair manner by Special Investigation Unit-I, Crime Branch. Efforts are afoot to conclude the investigation at the earliest," the Delhi Police said. .The statement was made by Delhi Police in its status report submitted to the High Court in the petition preferred by the mother (petitioner) of one of the injured persons who passed away..The Police stated that as on filing of the status report, no eye-witness had come forward to corroborate the incident and even though the videos were on record, none of the perpetrators could be identified as they were wearing helmets and the name plates were not visible. ."All the four video clips on record were referred to FSL for the purposes of enhancing the quality of the video clippings..Despite best efforts neither the source mobile / gadget from which the videos were recorded could be traced nor the individual who recorded the videos could be identified," it was submitted. .Regarding the status of the investigation in the matter, the Delhi Police claimed that it made sincere efforts to obtain CCTV footage from PWD but no CCTV cameras were installed near the crime scene. ."Sincere efforts were made to obtain CCTV footage from the PWD but no CCTV cameras either by PWD or from the counsellor's fund was found installed near the scene of the crime on 66 Foota Road. Furthermore, the CCTV cameras installed by individuals in the area of Kardampuri were either found broken much prior to the present incident or their directions were changed, due to which nothing relating to the present incident could be revealed..".The Police also claimed that during investigation, it was found that the deceased was part of an unruly mob which was pelting stones..With respect to the petitioner's allegation that the Police illegally detained and denied critical medical care to her deceased son, it was submitted that the petitioner's son and two others "were reluctant to go to their respective residences as there was heavy Communal tension" and were thus brought to Police Station Jyoti Nagar for their safety and security. .While listing the matter for further hearing on March 15, a single-judge Bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna directed the Delhi Police to file an affidavit with respect to the functioning or non-functioning of the CCTV cameras installed at the Police Station for the dates in question. .Affidavit was also sought in relation to Delhi Police claim that "all relevant material" for the case had been preserved. .Advocates Vrinda Grover, Soutik Banerjee appeared for the petitioner. .Additional Solicitor General SV Raju with SPPs Amit Mahajan, Amit Prasad, Rajat Nair appear for State..[Read Order]