Delhi HC records statement of mother of deceased Muslim youth, who was forced to sing National Anthem during 2020 riots

The Delhi High Court took on record a statement by the  Delhi Police about the evidence related to 23-year-old Faizan, who had  lost his life during the Delhi Riots due to have been kept in safe custody. 

As per the information available Faizan was beaten up and forced to sing the National Anthem by some Delhi Police officials during the riots.

The mother of the victim,he succumbed to injuries sustained after the police thrashed him.

The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad who appeared for Delhi police said that the original daily diaries, arrest memo and other documents related to the case will be produced before the Court as and when required.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani recorded the submission after the Advocate Vrinda Grover, who appeared for Kismatun, expressed her apprehensions regarding the same.

Grover said that the affidavit filed by the Delhi Police does not confirm that evidence like duty roster, arrest memo and station diaries of the relevant period have been preserved in original.

The Court was hearing a plea filed by Kismatun seeking a court-monitored inquiry into Faizan’s death. 

As per the petition, Faizan was brutally assaulted by policemen at Kardampuri and was later taken for illegal detention at the Jyoti Nagar Police Station, there he was not given medical treatment, after which he succumbed to injury.

Grover while argiung the case said that Faizan’s death is a hate-crime which should have been acknowledged by the Delhi Police leadership.

Grover stated that this is hate-crime where the victim was targeted for his religion. We know what happened in other jurisdictions. We know the case of George Floyd.

She questioned Delhi Police’s version and its investigation in the case, stating that surprisingly on the day of the incident, none of the CCTV cameras in the Jyoti Nagar Police Station as well as at Kardampuri were working.

Grover further said that till now, the Delhi Police was only investigating the videos that surfaced where Faizan was thrashed, but has not said much on whether it is also investigating the developments at Jyoti Nagar Police Station.

SPP Amit Prasad said that the Police is investigating the matter and that voice samples of some of the policemen involved in the incident have been sent for forensic analysis. 

He said that it is difficult to identify the police officers using the videos of the incident, since they do not reveal any faces. 

Prasad stated that five people were injured in the incident. Of the four people who survived, two did not come forward and two who did have said that nothing happened in the police station. They have also failed to identify the police officials who allegedly thrashed them during the riots,”

After hearing the submissions briefly, the Court listed the case for further arguments on May 8.