Yet, even after months, the fact that there hasn’t been any action against even a single officer is itself proof enough for the kind of impunity they enjoy
Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Following Amnesty International India’s investigative field report documenting widespread human right violations committed by the Delhi police, there is a growing demand that the Central government act upon its recommendations.
A ground report released by Amnesty International India, country unit of the United Kingdom-headquartered global human rights organisation on Friday after months of investigations had revealed that the Delhi police stood shoulder-to-shoulder with rioters, failed to control the mobs and tortured survivors in custody during the communal riots in the last week of February in north-east Delhi.
Zafar ul Islam Khan, former Chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission, reacted to the report and tweeted, “Amnesty International accuses police of rights abuses. Amnesty report said, ‘Not even a single political leader that made hate speeches, which advocated violence in the build-up to the riots has been prosecuted.’ Truth comes out — the world is not blind.”
Amnesty International accuses police of rights abuses. Amnesty report said, “Not even a single political leader that made hate speeches, which advocated violence in the build-up to the riots has been prosecuted.” Truth comes out — world is not blind.https://t.co/7hPpkgEeBG
— Zafarul-Islam Khan (@khan_zafarul) August 28, 2020
The field report of Amnesty International has worried many others. A journalist at Al Jazeera, tweeted, “Amnesty India investigation reveals “a disturbing pattern of grave human rights violations committed by the Delhi police during the riots. It corroborates numerous media reports that highlighted police bias against Muslims”.
@AIIndia investigation reveals a “disturbing pattern of grave human rights violations committed by the Delhi police during the riots”.
It corroborates numerous media reports that highlighted police bias against Muslimshttps://t.co/XGdZq8A0ul
— Saif Khalid (@msaifkhalid) August 28, 2020
O M A Salam, Chairman of the Popular Front of India (PFI), has demanded that the Central government act upon the recommendations made in the Amnesty report.
“The human rights violations occurred during Delhi Citizenship agitations and Northeast Delhi violence points to a serious problem among Delhi Police”, he said in a statement on Saturday.
Claiming that his organisation has pointed out on multiple occasions that the Delhi police have been biased and partisan against one section of people, Salam said, “Instead of providing security to people, the police acted like goons.”
Amnesty International India field investigations documented widespread human right violations committed by the police and their failure in preventing the riots in which 53 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. Excessive force was used on peaceful democratic protests. The police entered Jamia Millia Islamia university premises at night and brutalised students even inside the library.
“Protest leaders were arrested on false charges and subjected to custodial torture causing serious injuries. At the same time, police never acted against the frequent violations and open calls for violence from right wing Hindutva leaders and activists”, the PFI chief said.
Reportedly, during the riots, the police were mere mute spectators; they hardly responded to people’s call for help. Talking about the partisan behaviour of the police, he said, “There is undeniable evidence that police actively participated in the violence and vandalism. Police still continue to destroy cases and obstruct justice to Delhi riots victims by intimidating lawyers representing the victims.”
Welcoming the recommendations of Amnesty International India for independent and impartial investigations into cases of human rights violations, an inquiry on the role of police in the violence, and introduction of reforms in police force, the Front urged the Central government to take Amnesty International India report and its recommendations seriously and take necessary action on it.
Yet, even after months, the fact that there hasn’t been any action against even a single officer is itself proof enough for the kind of impunity they enjoy.
