Delhi Riots: Pinjra Tod Member Natasha Narwal Faces Another Charge Under UAPA
New Delhi:
Natasha Narwal, a member of the activist group Pinjra Tod, was released on bail in a case related to the riots in northeast Delhi neighborhoods this February. However, Ms Narwal will remain in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, as she also faces charges under the strict Illicit Activities Prevention Act or UAPA in another case related to the riots that left more than 50 dead and hundreds injured, after clashes broke out amid protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Registry of Citizens.
While granting bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University student Ms Narwal, a Delhi court said that a video provided by the prosecution shows Ms Narwal participating in an “illegal assembly” but did not show anything. suggesting that she incited violence.
“… The aforementioned videos show her as part of an illegal gathering, but do not show the defendant pleasing or inciting violence,” the court said in the bail order.
“The prosecution cannot say that until the witnesses are questioned, the accused cannot be released on bail. There is no specific charge of threatening the witnesses, who are, in any case, protected and their identity hidden, “the court said, referring to witnesses who are police officers or protected persons.
The court said that Ms. Narwal did not present a flight risk. The surety was issued with a personal surety of Rs 30,000 and a surety of the same amount.
Ms. Narwal and another member of Pinjra Tod, Devangana Kalita, were arrested in May this year and charged with alleged riots and illegal assembly, among others.
Pinjra Tod (Break the Cage) was founded in 2015 with the goal of making hostels and paid accommodation less restrictive for female students.
Fifteen people, all linked to protests against the center’s controversial new citizenship law and none from the campaign in its favor, have been named by the police on a broad charge sheet.
The 17,500-page presentation in two steel trunks included more than 2,600 pages detailing the charges against the defendants and thousands of pages of exhibits.
Among those named are suspended Aam Aadmi Party councilor Tahir Hussain and several student activists. Police also said their investigation into the case is ongoing and they hope to file a supplemental charge sheet against the defendants who have not been named so far.
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