15 SUSPECTS IN JAHANGIRPURI CLASHES FACE NON-BAILABLE WARRANTS
Karn Pratap Singh
NEW DELHI: At least 15 more people involved in the communal violence in Jahangirpuri on April 16 have been identified by the Delhi Police but they are evading arrest, senior police officers privy to the crime branch investigation said on Tuesday.
They said non-bailable warrants (NBWS) have been issued against the alleged absconding accused and efforts are on to apprehend them at the earliest.
“The locations of at least five of them have been traced to West Bengal. Teams from the crime branch and the special cell have been camping at different places in West Bengal to nab them and prevent them from crossing over to neighbouring countries,” said a senior police officer, asking not to be named.
While investigators refused to reveal the identities of the absconding accused, they said their identification and “active participation” in the communal violence were established after scanning through the footage from over 300 cameras and the interrogation of 36 persons, including three minor boys, who have been apprehended in the case so far.
Clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim groups during a religious procession in north-west Delhi’s Jahangirpuri on April 16, injuring some policemen and a resident. The violence took place when a procession of 350-400 people, to mark Hanuman Jayanti, was crossing Jahangirpuri’s C-block, where a scuffle broke out and escalated into stone pelting.
A case of rioting, arson, attempt to murder, assault and criminal conspiracy was registered by the local police and it was later transferred to the crime branch.
Another police officer, also on condition of anonymity, said look-out circulars will be issued through the competent authority to nab anyone who has crossed the international borders.
Among the last arrests in the case were of Tabrez Alam, Zaheer and Anabul last week. Police said Tabrez took part in “peace committee” meetings organised after the violence to ensure that no one suspected him.
Another police officer associated with the probe said Tabrez was also active during the anticitizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in Delhi in 2020.