Mob Attack: Muslim-Dalit Couple Granted Police Protection By Delhi High Court

A single bench of Justice Anu Malhotra of the Delhi High Court has granted extended police protection and sought for a status report from the police on an incident in Delhi wherein a Muslim-Dalit couple's house was allegedly attacked by a violent mob following their marriage.

The marriage between a Muslim girl and a Hindu Dalit boy took place after the girl voluntarily and willingly "converted" into a Hindu, according to the petition. However, the petitioner states that the couple faced challenges after the wedding with the girl's family being antagonized with the knowledge of her marriage and the boy's family being attacked in their home at Harijan Basti in Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi.

The petition states that visuals of the incident which occurred on Mar 20, were shared on the social media by several journalists, and were even covered in the local area CCTV footage. They state that although an FIR was lodged on the incident by the Sun Light Police Station only 4 people have been arrested so far and the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 have not been invoked despite derogatory remarks having been made against the Dalit community.

Therefore, apprehending another violent attack which could lead to disturbance of public peace, the couple and the boy's family members moved the High Court for appropriate directions. The plea states, "..CCTV footage of the area shows mob entering the narrow lanes and breaking pots and coolers, pelting stones and banging on doors to threaten the Petitioner No. 2 (boy), his family and neighbours..."

It further alleges that the people who were involved in the attack were known to the petitioner boy and his family "very well" - they had been threatened to be killed and had racial slurs hurled at them such as "bhangi". Further they alleged that a woman named Sabina had threatened the local Hindus with 'khoon ki holi' remarks and came with a full group of Muslim men later. The petitioners also informed the Court that they had demanded police action against Sabina, however, no arrest was made.

The Delhi Police informed the Court through Additional Standing Counsel Nandita Rao that provisions for offences under the SC/ST Act have been added to the FIR. Advocate Monika Arora with Advocates Manish Kumar, Riddhima Gaur, Akash Vajpai and Manish Kumar appeared for the petitioners