‘Instilled Sense Of Insecurity Among People, Jeopardised Communal Harmony’: Court Sentences 9 Men To 7-Years Jail In Delhi Riots Case

A Delhi Court on Tuesday sentenced nine men to rigorous imprisonment of seven years in jail in a case relating to 2020 North-East Delhi riots, observing that their acts instilled sense of insecurity among people and jeopardized the communal harmony in the society.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala sentenced nine men namely Mohd. Shahnawaz, Mohd. Shoaib, Shahrukh, Rashid, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvez, Md. Faisal and Rashid alias Monu after convicting them for the offences of rioting and being part of unlawful assembly in FIR 53/2020 (P.S. Gokalpuri).

They were convicted in March for offences punishable under sections 147, 148, 380, 427, 436, 149 and 188 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

All the convicts have been awarded simple imprisonment of one year for the offence of sections 148 and 427, simple imprisonment for three years for the offence under section 380, rigorous imprisonment for seven years for the offence under section 436 and simple imprisonment for six months for offence under section 188 of IPC.

A fine of Rs. 21,000 has also been imposed upon each convict. Out of the total amount, Rs. 1.5 lakhs is directed to be disbursed to the complainant as compensation.

“All the fines shall be recoverable as per Section 421 read with 431 Cr. P.C. Convicts shall be entitled for benefit u/s. 428 Cr.P.C. All the sentences shall run concurrently,” the court said.

In the order of sentence passed today, the judge said that communal riot is a menace which poses serious threat to sense of fraternity among the citizens of the nation.

“Communal riots are treated as one of the most violent forms of public disorder that afflicts society. It leads to not only loss of life and property, but also causes great damage to social fabric. During communal riots, innocent ordinary people get caught into the circumstances beyond their control, which leads to the violation of human rights as well,” the court said.

It also observed that the convicts indulged into communal riots whose impact was not only limited to the people residing in the affected area, but it also affected the mind set of people “beyond limits of territory in the society.”

“Thus, impact of the crime committed by the convicts in this case, is not limited to loss caused to the complainant only. Rather their acts left a deep scar over the social fabric, and economy and stability of our nation. The alleged acts instilled sense of insecurity among the people, while jeopardizing the communal harmony in the society,” the judge added.

In the FIR in question, a head constable deposed that he saw a mob which started assembling at Shiv Vihar road which was raising slogans against Hindu community and also set houses and shops on fire.

He had also identified Shahnawaz, Azad, Parvez Faisal and Rashid and also identified faces of other members of the mob, including Shahrukh and Mohd. Rashid. He then identified Shahnawaz, Rashid, Azad, Faisal and Parvez before the court and also pointed out to Rashid, Shoiab and Shahrukh without taking their names.

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