Delhi Riots: Over 50 people died in the February 2020 violence over the controversial citizenship lawHighlightsNatasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, Asif Iqbal Tanha have been granted bail
They were arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
In February last year more than 50 people were killed in Delhi riotsNew Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to three activists – Pinjra Tod members Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, and Jamia Millia Islamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha – arrested over a year ago in connection with riots and violence in the city over the controversial citizenship law.A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani set aside trial court orders denying bail to all three and allowed them regular bail, conditions for which include surrender of passports and an undertaking to refrain from unlawful activities that could affect investigations.In its order the court indicated that the government needed to understand “the line between constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity”.”It seems that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy,” the court noted.Ms Narwal had been granted interim bail for three weeks last month to perform the last rites for her father Mahavir Narwal, a senior CPM member who died after contracting the coronavirus.She had returned to jail on May 31 as ordered.Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were arrested on conspiracy charges linked to the riots in the northeastern parts of the national capital in February last year.They were earlier arrested on similar charges – relating to riots in the Jaffrabad area of Delhi – but were given bail for that case. Their second arrest came a day after that bail order.In January a Delhi sessions court had refused Ms Kalita bail.The two are associated with Pinjra Tod – a collective of women students of and alumni from colleges and universities across Delhi, who fight for women’s rights.The High Court had, earlier this month, also granted Jamia student Asif Iqbal Tanha interim bail so he could study for and take exams due this month.The court noted it is imperative for Mr Tanha to complete his degree and ordered that he be released on interim custody and brought back to prison on the evening of June 26.Mr Tanha was arrested for allegedly being part of a premeditated conspiracy in the riots.Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020 after violence between the Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters and its protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.
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