Locked up without trial: The forgotten activists of Delhi riots FIR #59

After the Delhi riots of 2020, the police registered 758 FIRs and arrested 2,619 people.

But it was FIR #59 that became the centrepiece of the Delhi ‘conspiracy’ case, targeting activists who had protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act. 

Filed on March 6, 2020, the case accuses 18 individuals of orchestrating violence, mobilising protests, and calling for a chakka jam that allegedly led to the unrest. Those who protested against the discriminatory citizenship laws became the accused – despite most victims being Muslim. 

Four years on, many remain behind bars with trials yet to begin. Only six have secured bail.

This documentary follows five of them – Salim Malik, Salim Khan, Gulfisha Fatima, Shadab Ahmed, and Athar Khan – shedding light on their stories and the price they paid for their dissent.

Watch. 

But what enables a police force to behave with such impunity? This is what we’ll track in our next investigative project. Across eight states, we’ll scrutinise police excesses and their impact on everyday Indians. Click here to contribute.