215 arrested for Delhi riots: Police
Police say 100 pistols were seized, 3,125 let off after questioning but refuse to reveal identities of all held
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have arrested seven people for allegedly killing head constable Rattan Lal in the communal violence that rocked north-east Delhi last month and recovered more than 100 illegal pistols allegedly used in the riots.
Police said on Thursday that 215 suspected rioters were arrested and another 3,125 persons were let off after being questioned. It also listed “videos and photographs, statements of eyewitnesses and technical evidence” that helped in identifying the suspects.
Lal’s death was the first reported casualty when incidents of stone pelting on February 23 turned into a full-blown riot the next morning. He received a bullet wound, apart from multiple injuries to his head and body.
The families and friends of all the seven arrested men — five garment traders and a property dealer from Chand Bagh, and a taxi driver from Ghaziabad — refuted the allegation.
In a press conference, Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa said 712 first information reports (FIRS) were registered directly in connection to the riots. “We have registered another 51 FIRS under the Arms Act and another 20 against social media users for spreading rumours,” said Randhawa.
In another case, two brothers, were arrested for the alleged murder of an 85-year-old woman, identified as Akbari, in Gamri during the communal violence.
nNEW DELHI: More than 100 illegal pistols allegedly used in the north-east Delhi riots have been recovered by the investigators so far, Delhi Police said on Thursday while revealing for the first time that a total of 215 suspected rioters had been arrested so far and another 3,125 persons were let off after being questioned.
In a press conference meant to share updates on the police action and investigation into the riots, the Delhi for the first time since the riots gave a break-up of the number of suspects arrested and those detained.
Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa said 712 first information reports (FIRS) had been registered so far directly in connection to the riots. “We have registered another 51 FIRS under the Arms Act and another 20 against social media users for spreading rumours,” said Randhawa.
“A lot of these detentions were meant to control riots. There were over 3,000 detainees who were let off after no immediate evidence against them was found against them. If any of them is subsequently found to be involved in the rioting, they’ll be arrested,” said another senior investigator requesting anonymity.
The police on Thursday revealed the identities of the arrested men in three particular cases of rioting, but refused to share the complete list of the 215 people arrested so far. “We are sharing the identities of the arrested suspects when we have established the involvement of most of the suspects in a particular case using photos and videos, eyewitness statements and their confessions,” the investigator said.
But the same officer insisted that most of the arrested people did not belong to any one particular community. “The number of people arrested from both the communities is more or less similar,” the officer said without sharing any data to support his claims.
Police said they had been using face-recognition software to identify the people involved in the rioting. The police’s admission came in the wake of Union home minister Amit Shah mentioning the use of the technology in his reply to the Lok Sabha to debate on Delhi riots in the House on Wednesday.
“The technology has helped us identify over 1,000 suspects. We are extensively using technology to identify and arrest the rioters. None of the guilty people will be spared and no innocent will be arrested,” said PRO Randhawa. At least 300 of the identified suspects do not belong to Delhi, police said.
The officer said that a helpdesk meant to cater to riot victims has been set up at the office premises of the deputy commissioner of police of north-east district. “There are many people who still want to register their complaints. They can visit the special helpdesk and submit their complaints. If it is cognizable, an FIR will be registered there itself,” said Randhawa.
The spokesperson said the number of FIRS is expected to rise and the number of people arrested for the riots will increase manifold as the investigation progresses.