New Delhi – A Delhi court on Friday remanded eight people to 12-day judicial custody for their alleged involvement in the Turkman Gate violence that broke out during a demolition drive near a mosque in the capital. The incident has resulted in 13 arrests so far, including a juvenile, as authorities continue their investigation into the violent confrontation.
The eight accused in the Turkman Gate violence were produced before the magisterial court and remanded to judicial custody till January 21. The court noted that grounds of arrest had been supplied to all accused and that, prima facie, the presence of the accused at the site of violence was apparent.
Five Other Accused Seek Bail
Five others accused of pelting stones near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque during the Turkman Gate violence sought bail in the court of Judicial Magistrate Sayesha Chada. The defense counsels representing these accused made serious allegations that their clients had been assaulted within jail premises by jail officers.
The court issued a notice to Delhi Police in connection with the bail application filed by the five accused in the Turkman Gate violence case. Additionally, the court issued a notice to the jail superintendent, directing them to furnish medical records of all five accused before the next hearing scheduled for January 13.
Defense Seeks More Time For Arguments
The defense counsels representing Mohammad Arib, Kashif, Adnan, Mohammad Kaif, and Sameer in the Turkman Gate violence case sought more time to prepare their arguments for the bail hearing. This request came in light of a new status report being filed by the prosecution, which the defense needed time to review and respond to adequately.
The court granted the defense counsels time until January 13 to prepare their arguments, ensuring that all parties have sufficient opportunity to present their cases in the Turkman Gate violence proceedings.
Latest Group Of Accused In Turkman Gate Violence
During Friday’s hearing, eight more accused were produced before the magisterial court in connection with the Turkman Gate violence. The accused individuals identified as Afaan, Adil, Shahnawaz, Amir Hamza, Ubadullah, Atharr, Mohammad Imran, and another Mohammad Imran faced charges related to rioting and obstructing public servants.
With these fresh arrests in the Turkman Gate violence case, police have apprehended 13 people, including a juvenile, demonstrating the scale of the investigation into the incident that occurred during the anti-encroachment drive.
Defense Arguments Against Remand
The defense counsel opposed the remand application in the Turkman Gate violence case on grounds that police did not supply any video evidence corroborating their clients’ involvement in the violence. This challenge to the prosecution’s case highlighted the importance of documentary evidence in establishing culpability.
However, Delhi Police asserted that all arrests in the Turkman Gate violence have been made based on identification by their constables and CCTV footage where the accused were clearly visible. The prosecution maintained that sufficient evidence existed to justify the continued custody of the accused.
Serious Charges Invoked
Delhi Police has invoked Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the fresh arrests related to Turkman Gate violence, among other provisions related to rioting and obstructing public servants. This section deals with organized criminal activity and reflects the serious nature of the charges against the accused.
Police submitted to the court that six police personnel were injured during the stone-pelting incident in the Turkman Gate violence, with some injuries occurring in vital parts of the body like the head. This information was crucial in establishing the severity of the alleged offenses.
Dispute Over Injury Severity
The defense counsel in the Turkman Gate violence case submitted that there was no intention to attempt murder, claiming the injuries sustained by police personnel were minor. This argument sought to reduce the severity of charges against the accused by questioning the gravity of the consequences.
However, the court stated that determining the gravity of injuries sustained during the Turkman Gate violence are subject to trial. This judicial position ensures that proper evaluation of evidence occurs during full trial proceedings rather than at the remand stage.
Legal Representation
Advocate Tushar Kadian has been appointed as the Public Prosecutor in the Turkman Gate violence case and appeared for the State. Advocate Atul Srivastava has been appointed as the Additional Public Prosecutor and appeared specifically for Delhi Police, ensuring robust legal representation for the prosecution.
Background Of The Incident
An anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in the Ramlila Maidan area on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday triggered the Turkman Gate violence. Many people pelted stones at police personnel during the operation, injuring six officers including the area’s station house officer.
Police sources indicated that the Turkman Gate violence was likely triggered by a social media post claiming that the mosque, located opposite the Turkman Gate, was being demolished during the anti-encroachment drive. This misinformation caused people to gather at the location, leading to the violent confrontation.
Scale Of Violence And Encroachment Removal
Authorities claimed that 150 to 200 people were involved in pelting stones and glass bottles at police personnel and Municipal Corporation of Delhi workers during the Turkman Gate violence. This large number of participants underscores the scale of the disturbance.
MCD Deputy Commissioner Vivek Kumar stated that around 36,000 square feet of encroached area was cleared during the drive. A diagnostic center, a banquet hall, and two boundary walls were demolished during the operation that continued through the night. Kumar clarified that the mosque was not damaged in any way during the Turkman Gate violence and subsequent anti-encroachment operations.
