Shaheen Bagh: Police blocked Noida-Delhi route, not anti-CAA protesters, admits Delhi police in RTI response

The response to an RTI query has revealed that the Noida-Delhi route through in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area has been barricaded by Delhi Police and not by anti-CAA protesters -- a fact the Shaheen Bagh protesters have been insisting on right since the protests started at this site in the Capital.

Activist Saket Gokhale in a Twitter thread shared the RTI response he has received from Delhi Police.

“In reply to my RTI about the Noida-Delhi road closure, the Delhi Police have admitted that what Shaheen Bagh protestors said all along was true -- that the Kalindi Kunj alternative road from Noida was blocked by the Delhi Police & NOT the protestors,” read the tweet.

“The police begin the RTI response by talking about Jamia and the usual "burning of buses" garbage (which is totally irrelevant). Then they mention that Shaheen Bagh protestors occupied Road No. 13A (Pls note that the occupied part was only 100-150 metres).”

“Then they admit that it was the local police who barricaded the roads going to/from Noida & diverted traffic from the Kalindi Kunj border. This blocking of an alternate route was COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY as these barricades were far away from the actual protest site,” wrote Gokhale

“Police also claim that Shaheen Bagh protestors blocked the other side of the road using stones & iron railings which is blatantly FALSE as anyone visiting the site can see for themselves. Delhi Police blocked these roads purely to create resentment against the protestors,” wrote Saket Gokhale in a series of tweets.

The Supreme Court will hear a plea against the removal of Shaheen Bagh protesters on March 23.