On June 3, Wednesday, the Delhi Police briefed that it will be filing two more charge sheets about the riots that took place in North-East Delhi this February. Among the 2 charge sheets filed, one is regarding the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma and the other about the violence that broke out outside Rajdhani School.
Ankit Sharma’s body was recovered from a drain in his neighbourhood in the northeast Delhi Chand Bagh on February 26. He had gone missing a day earlier while the riots broke out in the city.
As per the statement released by Delhi Police, the murder of the officer took place outside AAP’s councillor Tahir Hussain’s house in Khajuri Khas.
“After killing Sharma, the mob had thrown his dead body in a nearby drain which was fished out from the drain next morning. A witness standing on a terrace had captured a video on his mobile phone, in which a group of persons is seen dumping the dead body in the drain, the police statement clarifies.
Investigation revealed that there “was a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the riot and murder of Sharma, who was a familiar face in the area. As further added by the Police, Hussain is the main person who had been instigating the mob on February 24 and 25 in the Chand Bagh area. Crime Branch filed another charge sheet against Tahir for another riot case. Furthermore, the blood-stained knife used to stab Sharma and the blood-stained clothes of the killer (with Sharma’s blood) were recovered. Another knife used in the crime was also recovered. Hussain’s licensed pistol was seized as well, as told by the Police.
Talking to the family of the late officer, TOI reported that his family is happy that the charge sheet has been filed. No longer able to bear the pain and memories associated with their former area of resistance, the family has now shifted to Ghaziabad.
Ankur, Ankit’s elder brother in talking to TOI says that his mother longs for his brother. She had been inconsolable and we wanted a change of place to divert her attention. People in the area were familiar and would often ask my family members of their well-being and recall Ankit’s gruesome murder. Even while walking in the area, we would cross the drain and constantly remember him,” Ankur says.
Based on scientific and technical evidence, more than 1300 persons were arrested by Delhi Police for having any role in the riots.
Although out of 53 killed, 38 were Muslims. Among those affected as well, Muslims make up a good number. Among those arrested, the majority were those who had been involved in the Anti- CAA protests. On the other hand, there still has been no FIR filed against BJP’s Kapil Mishra or other instigators from the community.
Ashis Nandy, a celebrated political commentator says “the BJP began fermenting this crisis in Delhi weeks ago, as a way to win Hindu votes in the election.”
Raveesh Kumar, a spokesperson for the government, clarified about the numerous allegations that “these are factually inaccurate and misleading, and appear to be aimed at politicising the issue.”
Many human rights organisations and intellectuals have alleged that the Delhi Police is under political pressure as to how to conduct the investigation. It waits to be seen how the investigation would unfold further. Will it reveal the real perpetrators, of any community, or would only Muslims continue to be the scapegoat.
[zombify_post]