A community’s social consciousness can be traced by understanding the type of people they idolize. If people start to celebrate criminals ‘homecoming’ then it reflects the degenerative mind of the whole society. The act not only tries to validate the range of crime but also motivates people to commit such crimes and gives rise to potential lawbreakers.
Recently, Shahrukh Pathan, the prime accused in the North East Delhi riots, was given four-hour custody parole on a humanitarian basis. The court in the parole order stated that “his parents are aged and have ailments”. But when he reached his mohalla, he was given a hero’s welcome.
Court granted 4 hours' custody parole to rioter Shahrukh Pathan who brandished gun at a policeman during Delhi riots, to meet his parents.
And, this is how rioter Shahrukh Pathan was welcomed by his community. pic.twitter.com/PGniww2fzm
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) May 26, 2022
North East Delhi Riot
All over the country, left-Islamic groups had launched coordinated protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Similar protests were organized in Delhi in 2020. Knowing the very fact that then US President Donald Trump was on an India visit between February 24 and 25, the protesters went rogue on February 22, 2022, and about 1000 people began to protest near the Jafrabad metro station. The protesters effectively blocked the Seelampur-Jafrabad-Maujpur road and the entry & exit of the Jafrabad metro station were also closed.
In no time protesters went rogue and thousands of people raising Islamic slogans attacked petrol pumps and carried petrol bombs, sticks, and weapons. In the course of violence, around 53 people were killed including an IB (Intelligence Bureau) officer Ankit Sharma.
During the North East Delhi riot, Shahrukh Pathan was caught on camera pointing a gun at a policeman. During the same, many police personnel had also sustained gunshot injuries. Rohit Shukla, who had sustained injuries during the violence in his statement said that there were two groups of people, one of which was shouting “Allahu-Akbar” and protesting against CAA & NRC.
In the course of action, Shahrukh Pathan was booked under Section 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with a weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 153A ( promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code.
Justification of criminal act
The hero’s welcome of the criminal Shahrukh Pathan reflects the common consciousness of the particular community. The celebration and grand welcome give an idea of the common understanding of the particular community. It shows that his criminal activity has the validation of his community and is a justified act.
It is a very dangerous trend for any civilized society to glorify criminals and give the common societal validation of their criminal acts. It set a bad precedent for the coming generation and the young population idolizes such people further creating a group of common lawbreakers. Such incidents must be criticized and condemned by all.
