Delhi Police Calls 2020 Riots 'Pre-Planned Attack'

Delhi Police strongly opposed the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others charged with orchestrating the 2020 Delhi riots, claiming the violence was a pre-planned attack on national sovereignty. The accused were booked under anti-terror laws amidst ongoing arguments about the nature of the riots.

The bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and others, associated with the February 2020 Delhi riots, faced staunch opposition from the Delhi Police in the Supreme Court. The police characterized the riots as a premeditated attack on India's sovereignty, rather than a spontaneous outburst during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended that the riots were intended to fracture society along communal lines. He argued that narratives of the riots being a spontaneous result of the CAA/NRC protests are myths, emphasizing that evidence points to a well-organized plan.

The court proceedings continued to debate the culpability of the accused, who have been in jail since 2020. It noted that accusations of masterminding the riots hinge on contentious evidence, while the accused continue to deny conspiracy charges and link to the violence.

(With inputs from agencies.)