Delhi Police questions DU Professor in northeast Delhi violence case

Delhi University professor Apoorvanand was questioned by Delhi Police's Special Cell in connection with rast Delhi riots, police said on Tuesday.

professor, who teaches Hindi at varsity, said he spent five hours at Special Cell's office and his phone was also seized by police.

"On Monday, August 3, 2020, I was asked by Special Cell, Delhi Police, to appear before it in investigation into FIR 59/20 related to violence that happened in NE Delhi in February, 2020. I spent five hours re. Delhi Police also considered it necessary to seize my phone for purpose of investigation," he said in a statement shared online.

He urged police to conduct a "thorough and fair probe" in matter.

"While cooperating and respecting right of police authorities to conduct a full, fair and thorough investigation, one can only hope that probe would focus on real instigators and perpetrators of violence against a peaceful citizens' protest and people of rast Delhi," he said in statement.

He furr said investigation should t le to furr harassment and victimization of protestors and ir supporters, who asserted ir democratic rights through constitutional means while stating ir dissent to pass of Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) and decision of government to operationalise National Population Register (NPR) and National register of Citizens (NRC), all over country.

"It is disturbing to see a ory emerging which treats supporters of protestors as source of violence. I would urge police and expect ir probe to be thorough, just and fair so that truth prevails," professor said.

Delhi Police said that professor was summoned in a case relating to rth-east riots, by Special Cell, Delhi Police.

"He came to Lodhi Colony office yesterday (Monday) afteron in response to a tice and was examined in connection with investigation of case. As a part of investigation, his mobile phone was taken into possession by investigation team," police said.

In February, rastern parts of national capital were rocked by communal violence that claimed at least 53 lives and injured many people.

police have been criticised for ir handling of investigation in various quarters, including by student activists, filmmakers and civil society groups, who have accused force of carrying out a "witchhunt" at a time when country is battling coronavirus pandemic.