N-E Delhi riots: Charge sheet filed in woman’s murder case

nNEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Sunday filed a charge sheet in the rioting and murder case of 85-year-old Akbari Begum, the only woman among the 53 killed during the communal riots in north-east Delhi in February. Six men, including two brothers, have been charged for the crime, crime branch officials associated with the probe said.

The 606-page charge sheet was filed before a duty magistrate in a Delhi court. The court has fixed the next date of hearing on June 21. All the men are presently in jail.

Officials said that on February 25, a “riotous mob” barged into Begum’s house, on the ground and first floors of which her family members ran a garment workshop. The mob set the flammable items in the workshop on fire. The blaze soon reached the two upper floors where Begum and her family members were.

“While her family members climbed onto the rooftop and locked themselves, Begum could not escape due to her old age and subsequently died of suffocation (asphyxia due to inhalation of smoke),” deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rajesh Deo said.

The mob had also ransacked the building. A case was registered at the Bhajanpura police station on the complaint of Begum’s son. The case was later transferred to the special investigation team (SIT) of the crime branch.

During the probe, an investigator, requesting anonymity, said they had learned that many people had captured videos and images of the violence at Begum’s house on their phones. The videos were procured and taken on record. The statements of 53 witnesses were recorded, the officer said.

“We found CCTV footage in which the mob that entered Begum’s house and set it on fire was seen. Six men, mostly living in Begum’s neighbourhood, were arrested,” the officer said.

The arrested men were identified as Arun Kumar,26, his brother, Varun Kumar,22, Vishal Singh,29, Ravi Kumar,24, Prakash Chand,36, and Suraj Singh,28. They have been charged for rioting, murder, attempt to murder, dacoity with murder, arson, house trespass, and destruction of evidence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Crime branch officers said that 752 cases were registered in connection with the riots. Until Sunday, the police had filed charge sheets in 81 cases.

Police have also prepared their charge sheet in the murder case of head constable Rattan Lal, whose death was the first reported casualty when incidents of stone-pelting in northeast Delhi on February 23 turned into a full-blown riot the next morning. He had suffered a bullet wound, apart from multiple other injuries.

The charge sheet may be filed on Monday.