‘My life stopped’: What 5 years of waiting meant to the families of Delhi riots undertrials

After spending over five years in jail as undertrials, five accused were recently granted bail by the Supreme Court in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case. The court refused bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. The trial is yet to formally begin in the UAPA case in which they all are booked.

The bail granted to the five accused came with 12 stringent conditions, including restrictions on travel, communication, and public comment on the case. Newslaundry spoke to the families of Shifa Ur Rehman, Shadab Ahmad, and Saleem Khan to understand what jail without trial has meant for those waiting outside.

“My life stopped on April 26, 2020, because an important part of my life had left,” said Noorain, Shifa Ur Rehman’s wife. She explains how difficult life became for her two boys, who are now in class 7 and 10, respectively.

Meanwhile, Saleem Khan’s daughter Dr Saima Khan, who now runs her own dental clinic, describes how the case forced her to shoulder greater responsibilities at home. “We did not know where he was for three months. When I saw him for the first time after his arrest, I could not recognise him,” Dr Saima told Newslaundry. 

Fifty-three people were killed when riots erupted in parts of Northeast Delhi in February 2020. Of the 53 people killed, more than two-thirds were Muslims.  

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