Delhi Riots: Police File 17,000-Page Charge Sheet, Mention 'Anti-CAA WhatsApp Groups Used To Trigger Violence'

The Delhi police filed a 17,000-page charge sheet and have named 15 people out of the 21 accused. The police also mentioned that anti-CAA WhatsApp groups led to the violence in February in the capital.

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Delhi Riots: The Delhi police special cell on Wednesday named fifteen people as accused in a 17,500-page charge sheet filed over the violence in Delhi that raged through the capital city in February this year, leaving more than 50 people dead and property worth crores damaged. Also Read|Umar Khalid Arrested! Activists, Lawyers, Others Condemn Act; Call It 'Political Witch-Hunt' Against Former JNU Student The 17,500-page filing in two steel trunks included more than 2,600 pages detailing the charges against the accused and thousands of pages of annexures. Charges include those under the tough anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Out of the 21 persons arrested so far, police charge-sheeted 15 accused based on the scientific, documentary, and testimonial evidence gathered during the investigation. The remaining 6 persons are expected to be charge-sheeted in due course after collecting sufficient evidence and completing statutory and procedural requirements, police said in a statement. Among those named are suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and a number of student activists. The charge sheet also mentioned that anti-Citizenship Amendment Acts (anti-CAA) Whatsapp groups were used to fuel the violence in North-East Delhi in February this year. "These conspirators were in direct touch with the foot soldiers that resulted in the riots in North East Delhi in February," the police told the court, adding two WhatsApp groups were used to engineer the riots in Seelampur and Jafrabad that saw some of the worst violence. "Conspirators planned the riots while a middle ring of leaders at the area level executed the plan through the foot soldiers," the police said, claiming that students walked some 20 km to participate in the protests. "This was not a democratic protest since the beginning. The very beginning of this protest was for instigating violence," the police told the court, flagging the "chakka jam" or roadblocks as an undemocratic way of protest and intended at inciting violence. The charge sheet was filed under the sections of the UAPA/IPC/Arms Act in Delhi violence. The Delhi Police stated that they are relying on digital evidence, Whatsapp Chats, and Call Records and it has also received sanction from the Centre in this regard. Also Read|Govt Sets Up Expert Panel To Study Reports Of China Spying; To Submit Its Findings In 30 Days The Delhi Police also said to the court that the names of Umar Khalid and Sharejeel Imam are not mentioned in this chargesheet as the arrests were made a few days ago but will be included in the supplementary chargesheet. In February, Delhi was shaken up with communal riots, the worst in at least three-decade, with clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups in several parts of the city. Houses were burnt and broken into, while vehicles were set on fire. This communal violence erupted over the centre's controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) between groups supporting and opposing the law that promised citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from three neighbouring countries, widely seen as discriminatory.