Bullet fired from snatched police rifle

Murder Charges To Stay After Ballistics Report On Azad Maidan Rioting

S Ahmed Ali TNN

september 12, 2013

    The ballistics report from the forensic science laboratory (FSL) has confirmed that the bullet that hit one of the injured in the 2012 Azad Maidan rioting was fired from a rifle snatched from a policeman. Based on this report, the police now plan to retain the murder charges filed against “unknown persons” under Section 302 of the IPC.
    The city crime branch, which had been waiting for the report for nearly one year, will file the supplementary chargesheet next week, said sources. “While submitting the supplementary chargesheet we will include this report, which confirms that the bullet fired on one injured person was from the stolen police SLR,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police (crime).
    But the FSL could not confirm if the two men who died in the incident were victims of police firing as no bullets were recovered from the bodies. “We have not been able to conclude if they died in police firing or someone shot them with a rifle snatched from a cop,” said an officer. Police suspect that private firearms were used by the mob.
    On August 11, 2012, two died and 63 others, mostly policemen, were injured when participants of a rally assembled at Azad Maidan to protest the alleged atrocities on minorities in Myanmar and Asasam went on the rampage and attacked policemen and mediapersons. They mostly damaged BEST buses and vehicles of the fire brigade, police and media.
    According to the ballistics report, the bullet removed from Nazar Siddiqui’s thigh belonged to a self-loading rifle (SLR), which was snatched from a policeman. Siddiqui, who was arrested, had claimed that he and his friends were returning home after shopping, when he was shot at. The police later arrested Jogeshwari resident Salim Chaukiya, who was caught on cameras waving the SLR. Another cop had reported that someone from the mob had snatched his pistol and 10 rounds.
    The crime branch is yet to decide if Niyamtullah Noori, Rizwan Khan, Guddu Bhaiyya, Maulana Akhtar Ali, Maulana Amanullah Barkati and Gulam Kadri, who reportedly delivered provocative speeches before the mob turned violent, should be arrested. City collector Chandrashekar Oak had recently served notices to Saeed Noori of Raza Academy and Ahmed Raza of Madina Tul Ilm for recovery of damages of Rs 2.7 crores. Madina Tul-Ilm was the official organizer of the rally at Azad Maidan.
WHAT HAPPENED
    On August 11, 2012, Muslim organizations stage a rally at Azad Maidan protesting against the alleged atrocities against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. Protesters turn violent, pelt stones and assault policemen and mediapersons, and vandalize public property and vehicles. Police lathi charge, then fire at mob
    Two die and 63 others, including 58 cops, are injured. Postmortem reports can’t verify if the two died in police firing or fell to bullets from SLRs snatched from cops
    Crime branch submits report stating protesters damaged property worth 2.7 crore, says collector should recover the money from organizers
    It claims Rizwan Khan of Madina Tul Ilm, which organized the rally, should pay the damages CASE STATUS
    At least 60 people have been arrested and charged with murder, attempt to murder, causing hurt, damage to public property, wrongful confinement, stealing and stopping a government servant from performing duty. Group leaders, who had made provocative speeches, yet to be held
    Four have been booked for molesting nine policewomen
    Chargesheet has been filed