Kapil Mishra's men shouted 'burn the pandal': Delhi riot witness

BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s role in the escalating tension surrounding the anti-CAA protests in Northeast Delhi sparked outrage after he held a counter-rally near the Jaffrabad Metro Station on February 23. According to the statement, the witness — identified as Najam ul Hasan — was present in that protest and heard others shouting about it.

The chargesheet filed by police in the murder case of head constable Rattan Lal during the February riots in Northeast Delhi includes the statement of a witness claiming that he had heard people at an anti-CAA protest site shout that a pandal had been “set on fire by some of (BJP leader) Kapil Mishra’s people”.

1. Witness claims he heard Kapil Mishra's people saying 'set the pandal on fire'

According to the statement, the witness — identified as Najam ul Hasan — was present at the protest but “did not see” the alleged incident on February 24, and only heard others shouting about it.

2.Witness present in the protest heard people shouting

Hasan has been listed in the chargesheet among “important witnesses” who were “fully aware about the conspiracy and planning” of the protests at Chand Bagh.

3. Nazmul Hasan has been listed as important witnesses in the chargesheet

Delhi Police have named 164 witnesses, including 76 police personnel and seven local residents, in the chargesheet.

4.Delhi Police have named 164 witnesses including 76 police personnel

Hasan’s statement was recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC, which is evidence admissible during the criminal trial. It says: “...pandal mein Kapil Mishra ke kuch logon ne aag laga di. Maine yeh dekha nahin, par log aisa shor macha rahe thhe (The stage was set on fire by some of Kapil Mishra’s people. I did not see it happening, but people were shouting about it).”

5. "The stage was set on fire by some of Kapil Mishra's men", Hasan heard people shouting

Kapil Mishra did not respond to calls and texts from seeking comment on the allegation.

He had previously responded to allegations about his role in the violence by denying that his supporters had pelted stones and claiming that his presence at the site was to “release pressure” as the “people were very angry” that the protests had blocked two roads that are “the lifelines of this area”.

6. Kapil Mishra had earlier denied about his role in the violence

Mishra’s role in the escalating tension surrounding the anti-CAA protests in Northeast Delhi sparked outrage after he held a counter-rally near the Jaffrabad Metro Station on February 23.

7. Kapil Mishra's remarks sparked outrage and Delhi witnessed unprecedented violence

Mishra had also gathered with his supporters about 2 km from the Jaffrabad protest site, threatened protesters in the presence of police, and tweeted later that “till (Trump) is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully…after that, we won’t listen to you (police)”.

8. Kapil Mishra had openly threatened the protesters in Jaffrabad rally and also on Twitter

In his statement, Hasan claims: “…slogans were raised on the service road. A few people from Chand Bagh were against this blockade. I went there after taking a bath around 11 am…men and women were injured. When I enquired, I was told by the crowd that SHO (Bhajanpura PS) had ordered a lathicharge.

9. Hasan claimed slogans were raised and then police ordered a lathicharge

This information had spread throughout the area. When this reached Mustafabad, people from Mustafabad started reaching Chand Bagh…”

10. The violence spread to different localities across Northeast Delhi

In his statement, Hasan claims that he left for home “when the chaos increased” — and it was when he returned later that he heard people shouting about the alleged pandal incident.

11 Hasan claimed that people were shouting about the pandal

More than 50 people lost their lives in the Delhi riots, BJP leader Kapil Mishra was openly heard threatening protesters but his name was missing in the chargesheet

12. Kapil Mishra was heard and recorded threatening the protesters openly but not named in the chargesheet