Opposition submits memorandum to Prez for 'fair probe' in Delhi riots

New Delhi : A delegation of opposition leaders met President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday and demanded a fair probe into the northeast Delhi riots while alleging that the investigation has been biased and many activists and political leaders have been wrongly named.

Congress leader Ahmed Patel, after the meeting, said, "there should be a fair probe and we have presented a memorandum to the President."

DMK leader Kanimozhi said, "The Delhi riots are being linked with the CAA protests. Politicians, activists, economists, the general public and students are being targeted."

The Delhi Police Special Cell on Wednesday filed a voluminous chargesheet against 15 accused in the February riots, in a Karkardooma court.

Those named in the chargesheet under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act include suspended Aam Aadmi Party leader Tahir Hussain, Pinjra Tod activists Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, PFI leaders Parvez Ahmad and Mohammed Ilyas, activist Saifi Khalid, ex-councillor Ishrat Jahan, Jamia students Asif Iqbal, Meeran Haidar and Safoora Zargar, Shadab Ahmed and Tasleem Ahmad.

The chargesheet, however, does not name former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam as accused in FIR 59/2020, which pertains to the "conspiracy" angle in the communal riots. The duo will be named in a supplementary charge sheet.

Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after clashes between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those opposing it spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.

On Sunday, Umar Khalid was arrested in the case. He will be in police custody till September 24.