New Delhi: Five of the accused in the violence that broke out last week in Delhi's Jahangirpuri have been charged under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), ANI reported. The NSA allows detention up to a year without any charge.
The accused who have been booked under the NSA include alleged mastermind Ansar Sheikh, Salim Chikna, Imam Sheikh alias Sonu, Dilshad and Aheed.
Imam, whose video opening firing during the riots went viral on social media, was arrested on Monday. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he had fired using his pistol near Kushal Chowk during the clashes.
The development comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed the Delhi Police to take strict action against those involved in the Jahangirpuri violence on Hanuman Jayanti.
Amit Shah dialled Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Monday and asked the police to take action and set a precedent.
READ | Delhi Police Submits Preliminary Report To Home Ministry, Points To 'Criminal Conspiracy'
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police submitted its preliminary probe report to the Ministry of Home Affairs. In the report, Delhi Police noted that the violence was a criminal conspiracy and said they had seized weapons used in the clashes, IANS reported.
So far, 24 people have been arrested in connection with the case, including the alleged main conspirator Ansar, along with three juveniles, the Delhi police said.
Clashes broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the national capital's Jahangirpuri area on Saturday in which eight policemen and a civilian were injured.
An FIR was registered on Saturday under Indian Penal Code sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 147 (rioting), and provisions of the Arms Act in connection with the incident.
The Delhi Police has also registered an FIR against the organisers of the Hanuman Jayanti procession that triggered communal riots in Jahangirpuri on Saturday.
However, police said the situation in Jahangirpuri was heading towards normalcy even though there was heavy deployment of security personnel on Tuesday as well.