Action against those threatening Delhi riots witness: Police

The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed by police that it has registered three FIRs on the complaint given by Nisar Ahmed, who is amongst the witnesses in the Delhi riots case, alleging destruction and loot of his property during the violence.

"We have clubbed the complaint in an FIR registered at the Gokulpuri Police Station. There are three other FIRs also registered in the related matter… we are also ready to provide the charge sheet to the petitioner's counsel," Additional Standing Counsel Richa Kapoor, appearing for the Delhi Police, submitted.

The intimation came as a single judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait was hearing a petition filed by Ahmed, through his counsel Shamshad, seeking direction to the Crime Branch regarding registration of an FIR relating to the alleged destruction of his private property and looting during North East Delhi Riots.

In his plea, Ahmed, who is a resident of Bhagirathi Vihar under the Gokulpuri Police Station, and one of the worst-hit areas during the Delhi riots, told the court that he is a poor trader who used to earn his livelihood by selling and distributing readymade garments from his home, and is now surviving in penury and on the charit.

"He (Nisar Ahmed) was witness to a microphone and speaker system being installed at the intersection of Main Nala Road and Kashyap Road, right in front of the Axis Bank ATM, in Bhagirathi Vihar, and initially used to broadcast slogans in support of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, and subsequently to incite violence in the area by broadcasting hate speech," the plea said.

The petitioner further submitted that on February 24, while there was violence in the adjoining area of Jafrabad after BJP leader Kapil Mishra allegedly incited the mob, his locality was relatively calmer. However, at 4 p.m., some locals of his area also started a protest in support of the Citizenship Amendement Act.

Ahmed also sought the court's direction to the police to provide adequate protection to him and his family as they are being "approached" and "terrorised" as a means to get him to withdraw his complaints or change his statements.

"… the Delhi Police Personnel deployed at PS Gokulpuri and the local BJP Councilor, Kanhaiya Lal are spreading misinformation in the local area that whoever has been investigated or arrested in relation to the violence during the Delhi riots has been done so, on basis of the petitioner's statements," the plea said.

His plea also said that those victims who have made named complaints of the violence in east Delhi are being made witnesses in other FIRs, with no copy being given to them and thereafter are left to fend for themselves when the "dangerous accused of the FIRs seek out the said complainants to take back their statements".

The court was also informed that the petitioner herein cannot take recourse to an application under the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 as no copy of his FIR has been given to him.

Following this, the police told the court, by way of its status report, that "the beat staff has been briefed to remain in touch with the complaint and to exchange their mobile number including the SHO's mobile number".

"In case we receive any complaint regarding threat to him, action will be taken as per law," the police said in its status report.

Following these submissions, Justice Kait disposed of the matter and asked counsel appearing for the petitioner to approach the competent authority regarding the protection and other grievances..