Farmers Movement Archive

Tractor rally: UAPA sections, sedition charge in FIRs

NEW DELHI: An FIR under sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC Section 124A (sedition) has been lodged by Delhi Police to probe the conspiracy regarding unfurling of flags at Red Fort and India Gate. Those involved in unfurling the Sikh religious flag, Nishan Sahib, on a minaret of Red Fort on Tuesday will be booked in this FIR, apart from other FIRs of rioting, etc registered by the local police, said sources. Police are also looking into other flags waved at Red Fort during the violence. The UAPA FIR was registered by Special Cell based on multiple threats extended by SFJ throughout January. The outfit had even announced a reward for unfurling the Khalistani flag at India Gate. Even on Wednesday, SFJ announced a reward to anyone who would unfurl the Khalistani flag atop the Parliament on February 1. Around 25 FIRs were registered at different police stations between Tuesday evening and Wednesday in connection with Tuesday’s violence. A review of several FIRs by TOI found that police have invoked IPC sections of rioting, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, destruction of property, assault and other related sections. Robbery and charges under sections of Arms Act were also noted in the FIRs as the farmers had allegedly looted teargas shell crates, pistols and CCTV cameras. The weapon of a sub-inspector along with 10 rounds of ammunition was snatched in Samaypur Badli. Many farmer leaders like Rakesh Tikait, Naresh Tikait, Yudhvir Singh Malik, Darshan Lal Singh, Buta Singh, Satnam Singh Pannu, Rishipal Ambawata, among others, have been named in the FIRs. A senior officer said around a dozen of them have been named. The FIRs are likely to be transferred to special teams in Crime Branch. As reported by TOI, police confirmed that they were probing the role of Punjab-based criminals and gangsters. They said that gangster-turned-activist Lakhvir Singh alias Lakha Sidhana and actor Deep Sidhu had been named in the FIR lodged for the Red Fort violence. Cops will contact their Punjab counterparts in this regard. Details of how the protesters turned violent and ran amok have been mentioned in the FIRs. For instance, the FIR for the violence at ITO describes how policemen, who had rushed to rescue the tractor driver who crashed into the barricades while driving dangerously, had been attacked. Police are taking the help of CCTV footage and mobile videos to extract images of the protesters, especially the ones who went on the rampage at ITO and Red Fort, where maximum violence was witnessed. Facial Recognition Software will be used to identify and arrest them.

The Times of India

2021-01-28

Delhi