Cops pick up young boys, AAP asks police to not arrest on provocation

New Delhi: As young Muslim boys from different localities are allegedly being picked up by Delhi Police, state Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday in a meeting held with Joint CP and DCP north-east Delhi discussed the issues raised by the local people regarding the law and order situation.

Rai asserted that strict action must be taken against those who have strong evidence against them, but innocent people should not be arrested based on any provocation or misleading information. "After the violent riots that took place in Delhi, we have been getting complaints from different constituencies that cases have been filed against people who were not involved in the riots," Rai told reporters here.

According to Alif a resident of Mustafabad, young men are being randomly picked up without any evidence by the Delhi Police. "When asked the reason they say they want to speak to them regarding Coronavirus but are taken to the police station where they are questioned on the riots," he said.

A Kardampuri family, whose elder son was taken to police custody refused to talk out of fear. Meanwhile, Rai said a meeting was held with the police officials on the situation and found out that the lower-level police officials are filing the cases. "We met the senior officials today and deliberated on how the police officials must be careful in reporting such cases so that innocent people are not arrested or wrongly framed. Strict action must be taken against those who have strong evidence against them," he added.

Men from Mustafabad, Chand Bagh, Maharani Bagh, Mehrauli, Karawal Nagar, Kardam Puri, and various other areas are being picked up. "The most astonishing thing here is that all these men who have been picked up are Muslims. In Khajuri Khas, at least 21 men were picked up, out of which five have been freed. However, Rai picked up the issue with the officials and said, "No action on behalf of the police must be taken under any provocation or if it is misleading. The police have assured that no wrong action will be taken and the senior officers will also take cognizance of such a complaint."

In February, violent riots ravaged the northeastern part of Delhi, killing many people and bringing forth loss of money. The people who were rendered homeless in the riots have been staying at the relief camps of the Delhi government, while some of them have sought shelter in their relative's houses.