New Delhi: A Delhi court sentenced five men to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for their role in the 2020 North East Delhi riots, observing that they had launched a “frontal attack on the state machinery” involved in maintaining law and order.The court said the unlawful mob and assault on police were aggravating circumstances warranting a deterrent sentence, but declined to impose the maximum penalty, citing mitigating circumstances. The sentences for all offences will run concurrently.Judge Parveen Singh said: “It is not a case where a very lenient view should be taken as the convicts were involved in a frontal attack upon the state machinery which was involved in maintaining law and order and trying to suppress the riots.” However, he noted that there were mitigating circumstances in favour of the convicts.The court sentenced Arif, Mohd. Khalid, Abdul Sattar, Tanveer Ali and Hunain to two years’ rigorous imprisonment under Section 152 read with Section 149 IPC, besides sentences of one and a half years under Sections 147 and 353 and two months under Section 186. Each convict was also fined Rs 13,500.The court noted that the fact that it was an unlawful mob which had indulged in rioting was an aggravating circumstance as sentencing in such cases had to have a deterrent effect on the general public. “The act of assault and obstruction caused thereby to the policemen who were trying to suppress this riot is another aggravating circumstance,” it said.Special public prosecutor Madhukar Pandey sought strict punishment, stressing the nature of the offences and the attack on police personnel engaged in maintaining law and order.The defence, however, pointed to the convicts’ socio-economic circumstances, absence of previous criminal involvement, good conduct during trial and their status as primary or sole bread earners for their families.The convicts were granted the benefit of Section 428 CrPC/Section 468 BNSS for the period already spent in custody.
