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Jun 27, 2020

Delhi Riots: Police Names Hospital Owner as Organiser of Anti-CAA Protest

"My name has been dragged in this simply because I treated people in the hospital during the riots. I am being dragged in this case because I showed basic humanity," Dr M.A. Anwar told the press.
People gather outside Al-Hind hospital in New Delhi, February 27, 2020. Photo: Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis

New Delhi: Dr M.A. Anwar, the owner of Al Hind hospital in New Mustafabad which had treated victims of the Northeast Delhi riots, has been named in the chargesheet filed in the murder of Dilbar Negi, a 20-year-old waiter at Anil Sweets shop in Shiv Vihar, reported the Indian Express. Negi’s body was found in the godown in a charred condition with the lower limbs severed on February 26.

The Delhi police has stated that Anwar was the organiser of a protest at Farooqia Masjid. It added that the participants of this protest took part in the violence on February 23.

“Since 15.01.2020, near the place of incident, at Farooqia Masjid, an anti-CAA/NRC protest was underway illegally in which several speakers, on several dates, had given instigating speeches. A false news was spread there that Muslims would not be given Indian citizenship due to NRC, and they would be sent to detention camps. On the outside, this protest site had pictures of BR Ambedkar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi and the Tricolor was waved. However, one particular community was incited against the central government,” reads the chargesheet, filed on June 4 before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Singh Rajawat at Karkardooma court.

Arshad Pradhan, a resident of Nehru Vihar, has also been named in the chargesheet along with Anwar.

“Those who participated in this protest, who were incited, on the night of 23.02.2020 took part in the violence following which the FIR was registered at police station Dayalpur. The organisers of the protest which took place at Farooqia Masjid are 1. Arshad Pradhan 2. Dr Anwar, owner of Al-Hind hospital. The above mentioned persons could not be interrogated; they will be questioned later and we will accordingly investigate. The violence which took place on February 23-24 was not an isolated incident,” adds the chargesheet.

Farooqia Masjid, Al Hind hospital and Anil Sweets are at a distance of one kilometre away from one other. According to the chargesheet, the mob that torched Anil Sweets and other properties owned by Hindus came from Brijpuri Pulia.

Also read: Delhi Police Chargesheet Misses Key Fact: Riots Killed the Anti-CAA Protest

Anwar, at his three-year-old hospital, had treated several patients who had suffered bullet wounds and skull fractures during the riots in February.

Rioters had also attacked ambulances that were transporting critical victims from Al Hind to the GTB hospital. On February 25, documentary filmmaker Rahul Roy, moved the Delhi high court in the matter, following which, the HC directed the Delhi police to ensure the safe passage of victims.

Anwar has claimed that he is being targeted for having helped the riot victims. “I am aware that my name has been mentioned in the chargesheet. Neither did I organise nor did I participate in the protest because I was always busy. In fact, a few times I told the local police that commuting in the area is a problem due to the protest and it should be cleared out. My name has been dragged in this simply because I treated people in the hospital during the riots. I am being dragged in this case because I showed basic humanity. I am being targeted. These are false allegations,” he told the Indian Express.

The chargesheet accuses 12 persons – Mohd Shanawaj alias Shanu, Mohd Faizal, Azad, Asraf Ali, Rashid alias Monu, Sharukh, Mohd Shoaib, Parvez, Rashid alias Raja, Md Tahir, Salman and Sonu Saifi. All of them are currently in judicial custody.

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