Protest against air pollution in Delhi: Delhi’s Patiala House Court reportedly remanded 17 accused in judicial custody for three days, five accused in two-day custody and sent one to a safe house pending age verification as they claimed to be minors. An application was also made for the minor’s bail.
A total of 23 people were arrested for allegedly blocking a road, obstructing the police and using pepper spray on police personnel in Delhi during a protest at India Gate on Sunday, news agency PTI reported.
They were arrested in a case filed at the Parliament Street police station in connection with the protest against air pollution in Delhi. During the hearing, Delhi Police said that the accused persons raised slogans in favor of Maoist Madvi Hidma.
What happened?
On Monday, Delhi police told a court that a group of protesters were arrested for allegedly using pepper spray on police and raising slogans hailing slain Maoist leader Madvi Hidma.
Maoist Madvi Hidma was recently killed in an ambush by security forces in Andhra Pradesh.
Police registered two different FIRs — one at Kartavya Path police station against six protesters and the other at Sansad Marg police station against 17 people.
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The FIR said the protesters raised alleged Maoist slogans, including “Hidma amar rahe”, “Kitne Hidma maroge, har ghar se Hidma nikalega” and “Hidma lal salaam”, which led to the addition of Section 197 for statements deemed detrimental to national integration.
The newly added Section 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with imputations and allegations prejudicial to national integration, which includes charges for spreading false information that threatens India’s sovereignty, unity or security.
Police said the protesters obstructed civil servants from performing their duties, violated orders taken by public servants and also caused injuries to civil servants.
What happened in court?
The police told the court that the accused had to be interrogated to uncover the conspiracy and establish their links with the Maoist organisation.
Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim appeared on behalf of the five girls accused in this case. He stated that the accused were students and conducted a peaceful protest.
He also said that the girls were manhandled and subjected to harassment and suffered injuries, PTI reported.
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It was also submitted that if the police seek judicial custody, the accused persons should be released as their custodial interrogation is not required.
Lawyer Ibrahim said the bail application for the five accused would be filed tomorrow.
During the hearing, the court also interacted with girls who claimed to be men.
Alleged torture in custody
According to news agency PTI, the defense counsel for the two accused said they had sustained injuries as a result of torture in custody. The lawyer said they were conducting a peaceful protest and were not involved in any anti-national or Naxal activities.
The defense counsel for another accused claimed that he was a practicing lawyer and had been “beaten by the police”.
During the hearing, the court also physically examined the marks of injuries allegedly inflicted on him by the police.
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The counsel for the accused also submitted that the CCTV footage should be preserved. “Our contention is that there is torture in custody. It should be preserved,” the lawyer added.
“There are photographs showing the injuries. The police have lathi charged. One accused, Akshay, has been arrested,” claimed the lawyer.
“What they need to reveal in custodial interrogation. They are students and have been in custody. They have fully cooperated with the investigation. The police officials who allegedly assaulted the accused persons should be charged with custodial ill-treatment. A complaint has also been filed against the police,” another accused’s lawyer Sameer said, according to PTI.
