Lawyers in Delhi claim police terrorised them to drop cases

LAWYERS representing victims of the February riots in Delhi claim they were beaten by police as part of what they allege is a “campaign of terror” to get them to drop cases.

The lawyers are representing Muslim men who were arrested after the riots, in which 53 people died and thousands were made homeless in attacks by Hindu nationalist mobs across the city.

The Delhi Minorities Commission has received reports that hundreds of innocent Muslim men were arrested by police amid the riots and face fabricated charges.

The clash between lawyers and police came on Feb 26, according to the lawyers, after police denied that their clients were inside Jagatpuri police station and refused them access.

The lawyers alleged that the incident, in which they were beaten by police with wooden sticks known as lathi, followed threats to other lawyers to stop working on cases. They also claimed that legal advisers were followed and had their phones tapped.

Arif Iqbal, 30, said he went to Jagatpuri after receiving a phone call from Khalid Saifi, the wife of his client.

Mr Saifi had been arrested in his neighbourhood, Khureji Khas, during the riots. He faces murder charges, which he vehemently denies.

But when Mr Iqbal reached the police station, he said police denied that Mr Saifi – or the clients of six other lawyers who were also refused access – was there. Section 41D of India’s Code of Criminal Procedure states a detainee has the right to meet his choice of counsel. Another lawyer was able to get her client to send her a live location over Whatsapp which proved they were inside.

Mr Iqbal has filed a case in India’s highest court following an alleged police attack on him. The Delhi police are yet to respond to questions.