Umar Khalid hatched conspiracy to fuel Delhi riots: Cops

New Delhi, November 23

With an aim to launch propaganda on “atrocities” against minorities in India, former JNU student leader Umar Khalid hatched a conspiracy to fuel Delhi riots during US President Donald Trump’s visit in February this year, the police have alleged in the chargesheet filed on Sunday under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Quoting the chargesheet, sources said, Khalid allegedly left Delhi on February 23 for Patna and came back on February 27 as part of the conspiracy. It further alleged that the accused held meeting with other co-accused at an office in Chand Bagh.

In the FIR, the police had claimed that the communal violence was a “premeditated conspiracy” which was allegedly hatched by Khalid and two others. It further alleged that Khalid had delivered provocative speeches at two places and appealed to people to come out on streets and block the roads during Trump’s visit “to spread the propaganda at the international level about minorities in India are being tortured”.

Noting that in the process of hatching the conspiracy, firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected in numerous houses, the police have alleged that co-accused Mohd Danish was allegedly given the responsibility to gather people from two places to take part in the riots.

The chargesheet was filed before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat against Khalid, Imam and one Faizan Khan under provisions of the UAPA and various sections the Indian Penal Code, the sources said, adding that the offence for which they had been charged entail a maximum punishment of death penalty.

The 930-page supplementary chargesheet was filed under Sections 13 (unlawful activities), 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy) of the UAPA.