Pinjra Tod Activist Devangana Kalita Gets Bail In Delhi Riots Case

Jawaharlal Nehru University student and a member of Pinjra Tod women's collective, Devangana Kalita has been granted bail by the Delhi High Court today. On 23 May this year, she was arrested for allegedly organising an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest in Jaffrabad in North East Delhi. The High Court said that Delhi Police had failed to show that Kalita gave hate speech, instigated violence.

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The JNU student is a member of Pinjra Tod, which was founded in 2015, to oppose hostel curfews at Delhi’s colleges. Kalita has graduated from DU’s Miranda House. The FIR in the Delhi riots-related case accused her of instigating people from Jaffrabad and leading them to an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest there.

What You Should Know

• Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Pinjra Tod activist Devangana Kalita.
• This was in a case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi during protests against the CAA in February.
• Kalita and another member of the group Natasha Narwal were arrested in May by Delhi police.

Kalita has also been accused of three more charges in addition to the anti-CAA protests and Delhi Riots. Justice Suresh Kumar Kait granted her bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. “No prejudice would be caused to the respondent’s investigation by grant of relief to the petitioner, and she would be prevented from suffering further unnecessary harassment, humiliation, and unjustified detention,” the court said. The bench argued that while Kalita participated in anti-CAA protests, she didn't instigate any violence, LiveLaw reported.

The judge further said that Kalita was present at a “peaceful agitation”, which is a “fundamental right”.

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Kalita and another Pinjra Tod member Natasha Narwal were arrested on May 23 in connection with the protest in Jaffrabad area in February. The Delhi riots in the early part of the year had left at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. A day later, they were granted bail but arrested again in a separate case related to the violence. They were charged with attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Narwal and Kalita have also been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for allegedly being part of a “premeditated conspiracy” in the violence.

Kalita is presently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail.

Feature Image Credit: Twitter

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