Within Bijnor, a major part of the violence took place in Nagina, where the police arrested 83 people after clashes and Friday prayers on December 20
Bijnor: In West Uttar Pradesh court in Bijnor has granted bail to 48 people accused by the state police of rioting and attempted murder during last month’s violent protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Two people were killed during the protests there on December 20 last year, and the cops have admitted that one of those who died took a police bullet. This is the only acceptance of death from police firing by the cops across UP.
Within Bijnor, a major part of the violence took place in Nagina, where the police arrested 83 people after clashes and Friday prayers on December 20. In their First Information Report (FIR), the local police said a crowd of thousands gathered after Friday prayers, vandalized private vehicles and shops without provocation, broke government vehicles, stones were pelted at the police trying to control the situation and even fired at them.
Before two days, when hearing the bail applications of 48 of the 83 accused, a local court judge made some scathing observations against police probes in the case. In his bail order, the judge said, “The police FIR says the crowd fired at the cops, but no proof has been presented in court to show any recovery of weapons. The government lawyers have failed to produce any evidence in court that shows that any one part of the group fired at the police,” the judge said.
“The FIR filed by police in the case claims that the mob vandalized private and government vehicles and indulged in arson in shops. But no proof has been presented that any private vehicles or shops were vandalized. A police report about damage to one government vehicle has been presented, but the report was prepared at least 20 days after the violence took place. Government lawyers say 13 policemen sustained injuries in the incident, but medical reports of all these people suggest these injuries are very minor in nature,” the judge added.
Huge violence had broken out in UP in December after protests against the CAA turned violent in many places. As per crackdown, UP Police arrested thousands of people across violence-hit districts and brought serious charges like rioting and attempted murder against them. The police claimed at least 60 of their personnel had bullet injuries across the UP while trying to control mobs who were indulging in vandalism, arson, and firing.
But many questions have raised on the police action, including how the police in many areas seem to have indulged in excesses in dealing with the situation.
“The court had called for counter reports but the prosecution could not show any evidence. The police said the crowd has fired but could not present any proof. They said vehicles were smashed, but could not produce any number of plates of these vehicles. The prosecution has failed to prove there as any such incident. This was forged by the police”, said Ahmed Jakawat, the lawyer for accused in Bijnor.
For the first time, the CAA makes religion the test of citizenship in India. The government says it will help minorities from three Muslim-dominated countries to get citizenship if they fled to India because of religious persecution. According to the critics it is designed to discriminate against Muslims and violates the secular principles of the constitution.
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