Delhi witnessed its deadliest protest of the decade leaving approximately 42 dead and more than 200 injured in northeast Delhi.
According to the initial investigation, many died of injuries of stone pelting and lathis and may have been reported dead due to bullet wounds.
The silent protest which in no time turned into a communal riot was started on the evening of the 24th of February, over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, [CAA,] 2019.
Two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) formed on the direction of the Central Government and the Delhi High Court (HC) started the investigation. Headed by Deputy Commissioners, the SITs in cooperation with the officials of the Crime Branch of Delhi together are investigating the Delhi riots. So far, the investigating teams have registered 148 FIRs and arrested/ detained 630 people.
One of the cases is the death of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staff Ankit Sharma. The major suspect in the Ankit Sharma case is the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Councillor Tahir Hussain. Mr. Hussai is alleged to be involved in the violence and in the killing of Ankit Sharma.
Mandeep Singh Radhava, the Spokesperson of the Delhi Police said, “The investigation is going on and we have called FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) teams. We are revisiting the scene of the crime. We are collecting footage and evidence. We have controlled the situation and it is heading towards normalcy. The deployment (of force) will remain in the areas along with senior officers. We have conducted around 400 meetings with aman (peace) committees.”
The Forensic team also reached the spot and started an investigation. One of the teams arrived at Tahir Hussain’s residence to investigate his role in Ankit Sharma’s murder.
The investigation regarding the man who opened fire during the riots, on the 25th of February is also underway. Initially, the man was reported to be identified as Shahrukh, but a few media outlets questioned the authenticity of this name.
Meanwhile, the Central Government and the Delhi Government appealed to the citizens to stay calm and to maintain peace in the City .
The Delhi Police imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which restricts any kind of public gatherings and protests in Delhi. Section 144 would be imposed till the 24th of March in major areas of Delhi.
