Communal riots broke out in Delhi on February 24 this year and had claimed 53 lives and left several injured. Delhi Police has submitted almost 80 charge sheets against almost 600 people so far.
The latest name that appeared in the charge sheet is of DS Bindra, a Delhi based advocate. The Sikh man became eminent after he set-up Langar (Public Kitchen) at Shaheen Bagh and Chandbagh during the Anti-CAA protests.
The charge sheet is filed by the Delhi Police in the death of constable Ratan Lal under FIR 60 mentions Bindra’s name along with others for organising the Delhi riots. Though, Bindra’s name does not reckon in the list of the 17 accused by the police.
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The charge sheet asserts that the Delhi Riot were prompted by Bindra along with others. Allegations made by the Delhi Police are based on manifold testimonies. Noteworthy testimonies are of two Delhi Police officers, Sunil and Gyan Singh who were the beat officers in the area. They said that Bindra, along with others, were organisers at the protest site where infuriating addresses were made.
The charge sheet states, “They are beat officers and had been regularly visiting the protest site and according to them Salim Khan, Salim Munna, DS Bindra, Suleman Siddiqui, Ayub, Athar, Shahdab, Upasna, Ravish and others were organisers of the protest site.”
Bindra repudiates the allegations mentioned by the DP:
“What wrong have I committed? Is serving langar a crime?” said Bindra to The Quint on Thursday, while refuting the allegations of taking part in the violence or being the chief organiser of the protests.
He added, “As I told you, I just put up langar. This is part of my Sikh faith. People from every community ate at the langar without discrimination – be it Sikhs who had come from Punjab to join protests or local Muslims. Even others who wanted vegetarian food would come.”
“We established a model of Sikh-Muslim brotherhood, of communal harmony. My only motive was love and brotherhood. Instead of recognising our efforts, we are being maligned,” he added.
With the Delhi Police now mentioning him in the charge sheet, and a number of social media commenters attempting to link him to political parties like All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen or AIMIM the debate over his involvement is not likely to recede soon.
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