7 Arrested For Head Constable Ratan Lal's Death During Delhi Riots

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the death of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal during Delhi riots. Head constable Ratan Lal died of bullet injuries in the communal violence in Gokalpuri on February 24. "It emerged during investigation that the spot where the incident took place was the venue for an anti-CAA protest. In the fateful day, a conspiracy was hatched to attack police," Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said on Thursday. Informing about the communal violence probe, “Till now, we have registered 712 FIRs. More than 200 accused have been arrested. We have received a lot of videos that will help us in the investigation.”

On identifying the culprits, Randhawa said that, “we are doing an analysis of all footage; face recognition technology is being used to identify people. Many people have come forward to record their statements. SIT and local police are conducting the probe.”

On present situation in riot-hit areas in North-East Delhi, Randhawa said that, “Right now, the law and order situation in Delhi is completely normal. Senior officers are continuously monitoring the situation.”

The autopsy report had confirmed that the Head Constable had died of bullet injury and not due to stone-pelting. “A bullet was stuck in Ratan Lal’s body. It entered from left shoulder and went to right shoulder. It was removed during autopsy,” the report said. ‘Ratan Lal was shot dead,’ the autopsy report revealed. 42-year-old belonged to Fathepur Tihwali village in Rajasthan's Sikar district. Lal is survived by wife and three children. The Sikar resident had joined the Delhi Police on post of constable in 1998. He married a Jaipur resident in 2004.

A Times of India report had said that Lal was popular among his friends for an impressive style of moustache. The report said that last year, Lal was enthusiastically speaking about the resemblance between his moustache and national hero Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. A year later, the brave policeman died fighting valiantly with the rioters on Monday. Ratan Lal was posted at Gokulpuri Police Station. He used to lie with his family in a house in Delhi’s Burari area. Reports say relatives have not informed Ratan Lal’s mother about his death.

He had just returned from his ancestral village and had promised his children that the family will go to Fathepur Tihwali to celebrate Holi next month. Lal was the eldest with two younger brothers. His siblings used to work as farmers.

(With agency inputs)