By Atul Krishan
New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) In a significant development concerning the protest at India Gate where participants raised pro-Naxal slogans and for slain Naxalite Madvi Hidma, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to take over the cases registered by Delhi Police.
The NIA is expected to add sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to the FIRs against the protesters for openly supporting Naxals.
Twenty-three protestors are currently facing prosecution in the matter.
Sources within the NIA stated that openly supporting the Naxal movement, which is a banned terrorist organization, and raising slogans and working for them, indicates active involvement in spreading their ideology, which constitutes a crime.
A source associated with the probe told UNI that the protesters were allegedly supporting the Naxalite movement, which targets the nation. “We have found two WhatsApp groups where they were supporting Naxals. One of the group members left, saying they shouldn’t support such a movement,” the source added.
The DCP of New Delhi, Devesh Mahla, had earlier argued that the protesters were raising slogans for groups listed as terrorist or Naxalite organizations on the Ministry of Home Affairs website. “If an 18-year-old is raising slogans, he should be aware of what he is doing,” he stated, noting that social media checks revealed the same group had previously sung for the banned ”Radical Student Union” (RSU), also linked to the Maoist movement.
The Delhi Police has obtained crucial videos showing the arrested protesters “supporting elements that oppose the country”. One such video features students from the BSCEM (Bhagat Singh Students Unity Forum). These students had gathered in a conference room in Hyderabad in February, where they were seen raising slogans in support of the banned RSU and singing songs for them. The RSU has been banned by the Government of India since 2005.
The students visible in the video, Gurkeerat and Ravjot, who are sisters, had also raised slogans in support of Maḍavi Hidma on Kartavya Path, and are accused of misbehaving with the Delhi Police. Both have been arrested along with their associates and are currently on police remand.
Now that the NIA is taking over the case, a fresh FIR will be lodged by the agency, and all the accused will be formally arrested again.
NIA set to take over India Gate Protest case: Sources NIA is all set to take over the India Gate Protest case : Sources
