CBI takes over investigation into death of Faizan who was 'forced' to sing National Anthem
New Delhi, Aug 7: The CBI has registered an FIR to probe the death of a 23-year-old man who was seen in a viral video being purportedly assaulted and forced to sing the national anthem during the communal riots here in 2020.
The agency has taken over the investigation of the case from the Delhi Police on the directives of the city high court issued on July 23.
In a video clip that had gone viral on social media, Faizan, along with four other Muslim men, was seen being beaten up by policemen and forced to sing the national anthem and "Vande Mataram," the national song
Faizan's mother Kismatun, in her plea filed in 2020, alleged that police assaulted and illegally detained her son, and denied him critical healthcare due to which he succumbed to injuries on February 26 that year after being released.
Police, in a status report filed in the court in a sealed cover in 2022, had said the process of identifying the guilty personnel was still on.
In March, they had told the court that they were awaiting the forensic analysis of certain video footage from the National Forensic Sciences University in Gujarat.
In his order, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani noted that actions of Delhi Police were "too little, too late".
"It is extremely important to note that this case presents allegations of gross violation of human rights, inasmuch as the unlawful actions of the policemen, who are yet to be identified, were motivated and driven by religious bigotry and therefore would amount to a 'hate-crime'", he had noted.
Justice Bhambhani said mob-vigilantism and mob violence do not cease to be so merely because these are perpetrated, not by ordinary citizens, but by policemen.
"If anything, the clement of abomination gets aggravated if hate-crime is committed by persons in uniform," he has said.
He said existence of the two sets of video footage showing Faizan alone being encircled and beaten mercilessly by policemen, and the second, which shows several young men, including Faizan, lying in an injured state on a road and being brutally assaulted by policemen, is not disputed.
"Even if it is assumed that Faizan and/or the other young men had sustained some injuries earlier-on during rioting, several policemen present at the spot are clearly seen surrounding, dragging, kicking and striking blows on Faizan and the other young men with batons/lathis; abusing them; and ordering them to sing the National Anthem while they are lying seriously injured and helpless on the roadside," he observed in his order.
The Delhi High Court said perpetrators of the alleged crime are at large even after four years of the incident.
Justice Bhambhani noted that probe so far is not suggestive that it is being conducted with "required promptitude".
"I am allowing the petition. I am transferring the case to CBI," he said.
Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 700 injured.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
