New Delhi: The Delhi high court has ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the death of a 23-year-old Muslim man who was allegedly assaulted by the police and forced to sing the national anthem during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The incident dates back to February 2020 when a video clip had gone viral showing the Muslim man (Faizan) and others, apparently injured, being beaten up by police with lathis and forced to sing the national anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, who ruled on the petition of Faizan’s mother, transferred the investigation to the CBI on Tuesday, July 23.
“More than four and a half years have elapsed since. However, not even one of the policemen involved in the abuse and assault has been conclusively identified in the course of the investigation so far,” Justice Bhambhani said.
“It is extremely important to note that this case presents allegations of gross violation of human rights, in as much as the unlawful actions of the policemen, who are yet to be identified, were motivated and driven by religious bigotry and, therefore, would amount to a ‘hate crime’,” he added.
“The investigation in the present case has evidently been tardy, sketchy, and conveniently sparing of the persons who are suspected to be involved in brutally assaulting the petitioner’s son. What is worse is that the suspects were entrusted to act as custodians of the law, and were in a position of power and authority, but seemed to have been driven by bigoted mindsets,” the court said.
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