Read Time: 08 minutes

During the hearing on Umar Khalid's bail petition today, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), Amit Prasad told a Delhi Court that the mainly a 5 member Committee formed on the Whatsapp Group "JCC_JMI" which had Safoora and Sharjeel as members had coordinated the Delhi Riots.

Before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat, SPP Prasad pressed that the group chat shows that they already knew about the upcoming violence even before Kapil Mishra's alleged instigation on February 17. 

Referring to the chat on the said WhatsApp group, Prasad said,

"It is clear that they are trying to (falsely) create the narrative of violence blaming Kapil Mishra because firstly, from Feb 17 itself they were anticipating violence, and secondly, their own person says, 'Brother, nothing happened, Kapil Mihra is gone, Police has taken him away' (Bhai kuch nai hua, Kapil Mishra gaya, police le gayi usse)".

Prasad also stressed, "the actions of all accused in the case were synchronized, planned and intended at causing violence." He said this time the accused wanted a coordinated attack as the first phase of the Delhi Riots wasn't successful. He also cited 5 reasons as to why the earlier plan failed which included that the police were effective and mobilization of rioting forces did not happen.

In this regard, Prasad referred to the charges in another FIR in the case, where it was mentioned that Station House Officers of Police Station were also deliberately injured during the riots this time.

He read out the excerpts of the FIR where it was stated that the crowd was shouting, "today we will not leave the Police personnel alive, (Aaj police walon ko jaan se maar kar chhodenge)".

To further prove the allegation of the coordinated riots, Prasad argued that a pattern was observed across places before and during the second phase of the riots. He showed the court on a map that certain roads were blocked during the riots, for which is it known that if they get blocked, the entire North-East Delhi gets blocked.

Referring to an FIR from New Friends Colony, New Delhi, he further contended that there were common elements - Haider, Asia Tatiya (who is Asif Tanha). He added that "Petrol bombs, deadly weapons, pathrav (stones thrown) on police, were used. Petrol bombs show prior planning, not something you can just buy off the shelf."

He added, "(If) You have a grievance with a particular legislation you are well within your rights to raise it, but you have no right to threaten, beat up policemen, cause destruction."

Prasad showed yet another FIR where destruction of DTC buses, ambulances, police booths have been seen. He pressed that there was an identical pattern and common elements - Miran Ahmad, Sharjeel Imam, Asif Tanha. He said that Imam had himself admitted his presence as in one on his statement he has stated that his glasses were broken there (during the riots).

Further, Prasad referred to MLC (injury report) reports of Pinjra Tod activists and other accused in the case as well and argued that these common elements also were all in or near Dariyaganj when the Delhi Riots violence took place. 

Significantly, Prasad referred to a picture to establish connectivity between Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam who could be seen sitting together in the image. He also referred to some chats and other documents to show connectivity and the presence of common elements across instances of violence.

He said that a common "secular" tag was attached and the riots were planned in such a way by the Jamia Coordination Committee to put women and children in the front.

Case Title: Umar Khalid vs. State