Delhi’s Karkardooma Court on Thursday sentenced Dinesh Yadav, the first person convicted in connection with the February 2020 riots, to five years in jail. Additional Sessions Judge Virendra Bhat had convicted him on December 6 for being part of a mob of rioters that set a house on fire. This is the first punishment in riot cases.
Advocate Shikha Garg, who represented him during the hearing, said Yadav has also been directed to pay a fine of Rs 12,000. A detailed order on the sentence is awaited. According to the prosecution, Yadav was an “active member of the mob of rioters” and had participated in ransacking and setting fire to the house of a 73-year-old woman named Manori on the night of February 25. Manori had alleged that when his family was not present, a mob of around 150-200 rioters attacked his house and looted all the belongings and also buffaloes.
Yadav, 25, was arrested on June 8, 2020. The court framed charges against him on August 3, 2021, in which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. At least 53 people were killed and over 700 injured after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and its protesters, communal clashes broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
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