Religious riots in Delhi 2020: Amnesty International accuses police of violating rights

Indian police earlier this year committed “serious human rights violations” during deadly religious riots in Delhi, Amnesty International claims.

It said police beat Protestants, tortured detainees and occasionally joined riots with Hindu mobs.

More than 40 people have died when clashes broke out between Hindus and Muslims over a controversial law on citizenship. Muslims bore the brunt, Amnesty said.

Delhi police have yet to respond to Amnesty International’s request for a response.

Videos have emerged on social media and newsgroups from the Khajuri Khas area in north-east Delhi, in which police are seen dealing with a mob and throwing stones. We examined these videos by gathering testimonials from both communities.

One shopkeeper claimed that police gave stones to him and other Hindus to throw at Muslims across the road. Bhoora Khan, a Muslim whose house and shop burned down across the street, also claimed that the police were using Hindus against Muslims.

We also investigated another set of videos that showed a group of policemen brutally beating a Muslim, Faizan. The man died a few days later. His brother Naeem told me that Faizan suffered from the injuries he suffered at the hands of the police.

While the Delhi police initially did not respond to the BBC’s request for a response, after sending the BBC Hindi report, they said they would look into what is shown in these videos. But many, including Amnesty, are asking how the police can be trusted to investigate allegations against their own husbands.

The Amnesty report says that although Hindus also suffered losses, Muslims were disproportionately targeted at the riots.

“The riot, which seemed far from spontaneous, saw almost three times the number of Muslim casualties compared to Hindus. Muslims also bore the brunt of loss of property and possessions,” it said.

“The percentage may be lower, but establishments and houses owned by Hindus were not left completely untouched,” it added.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) – which critics say is anti-Muslim – caused massive protests across India after it was passed last year.

One such demonstration in Delhi became violent – clashes broke out between protesters for and against the law.

The violence soon took on religious overtones and the revolt continued for three days, with Muslim homes and shops targeting violent mobs.

The report says that his forensic analysis of videos of the rebellion supports the conclusion that the police were involved, which could have ruined relationships in some places.

On the other hand, it says, police have arrested civil rights activists, teachers and students, most of them Muslims.

“Not even one political leader who has made hate speeches advocating violence in the build-up to the riots has been prosecuted,” it said.

The report recommends an independent investigation into the allegations.

“When the Delhi police investigate who is responsible for the riots, there have been no investigations so far into the human rights violations by the Delhi police during the riots,” the report said.