PFI member arrested for alleged link to Delhi riots, anti-CAA protests

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Monday said they have arrested a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with a case of rioting and criminal conspiracy

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Monday said they have arrested a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in connection with a case of rioting and criminal conspiracy pertaining to last month’s communal violence in north-east Delhi that has claimed 53 people and left more than 400 others injured. His alleged role in funding the riots and the ongoing agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Shaheen Bagh is being also probed, officers privy to the case said.

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Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said that Mohammad Danish,33, has been arrested by the special cell but refused to detail Danish’s role in the riots and anti-CAA protests.

A special cell officer, who asked not to be named, said Danish was picked up from his home in east Delhi’s Trilokpuri on Sunday night. He was questioned and later arrested on Monday. Danish was part of the counter intelligence wing of the PFI, the officer claimed.

“There is evidence that suggests that Danish was playing a key role in funding the north-east Delhi riots and the anti-CAA protests. It has also been found that he had distributed anti-CAA posters and was spreading propaganda with intent to instigate people of his community against the government and other communities,” the officer said.

PFI general secretary Anis Ahmed said the allegations of the organisation’s links to communal violence in Delhi are “baseless”. “Popular Front rejects the allegation as baseless propaganda and would like to make it clear that the organisation is unnecessarily being dragged into the incidents in Delhi. Delhi police is using the same tactic that has been tried and failed by police in Sangh Parivar ruled states such as Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh,” a statement issued by the PFI said.

“…it seems that Delhi Police, after their massive failure to prevent large scale violence against Muslim community in the capital city by Sangh Parivar and bring the cuprites to justice, are in search for a scapegoat to put all the blame and wash their hands off. While Hindutva leaders who incited violence roam free enjoying Y-category protection, Delhi police are busy making arbitrary arrests and hunting after innocents,” the statement said.

Danish has been pursuing a law degree from an institute in Ghaziabad. His family members confirmed that he was a social activist and a PFI volunteer but refuted the allegations that he was involved in the riots or was part of any “conspiracy” behind the communal violence.

“Police are falsely implicating Danish in the riots case. My son is innocent and was at home when the riots happened in Delhi. Being a social activist, he visited Shaheen Bagh protest venue two times but only to give food to the protesters. He never participated in the protests,” said Danish’s mother Shahana.

Javed, Danish’s brother, alleged that the crime branch had already questioned his brother in the violence case some days ago but did not arrest him as no evidence was found against him.

“Now all of a sudden, the special cell has arrested him and are accusing him of inciting violence through the PFI. My brother had been motivating us to join the organisation by saying that it works for the social causes. Now that my brother has been arrested, I will certainly join the PFI,” said Javed.