A Mother's Unwavering Fight: Four Years On, Seeking Murder Charges for Son's Delhi Riots Death

The scars of the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots run deep, often resurfacing years later in the most heart-wrenching ways. For Kismatun, a mother whose world was shattered, those wounds have reopened with a renewed, fierce determination. You see, her son, Shahrukh, who was brutally assaulted by two Delhi Police constables during the riots, tragically passed away just recently. Now, she's not just grieving; she's fighting, relentlessly, for the gravest charge of murder against those very officers.

It's a chilling scene, etched into public memory thanks to a viral video: Constables Ajay Kumar and Gyan Singh forcing a group of young men, Shahrukh among them, to sing the national anthem and national song, all while physically assaulting them. Shahrukh, a young man of just 23 at the time, endured a humiliating and violent ordeal. The imagery alone was enough to stir public outrage, but for Kismatun, it was merely the beginning of an agonizing four-year journey.

Kismatun firmly believes that this brutal assault was the direct cause of her son's deteriorating health and eventual demise. According to her, Shahrukh never truly recovered from that day. He suffered internal injuries, which she recounts led to a blood clot in his brain, constant memory loss, and persistent body pain. He was in and out of hospitals, battling ailments that, in his mother's heartbroken conviction, stemmed directly from the beating he received. And then, after years of struggle, heartbreak hit again when he breathed his last on February 24, 2024.

Initially, the police had registered a case and subsequently filed a charge sheet under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. They also included charges for voluntarily causing hurt and wrongful restraint. But for Kismatun, that simply isn't enough. She sees the constables' actions as having a direct, lethal consequence, and she wants them held accountable under Section 302 – murder. Her unwavering resolve led her to approach the Delhi High Court, seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the matter and, crucially, the elevation of the charges to murder.

The High Court has taken note, issuing a notice to the Delhi Police regarding Kismatun's impassioned plea. This legal battle is more than just about a specific section of the law; it's about a mother's desperate search for truth and accountability, a quest to ensure that those she holds responsible for her son's death face the full weight of justice. It underscores the complex, often painful, process of achieving closure for victims and their families in the aftermath of such widespread violence.

Kismatun's fight is a poignant reminder that for many, the Delhi riots are far from over. The physical wounds may heal, but the emotional scars, the legal battles, and the profound sense of loss continue to haunt countless lives. Her determination to see murder charges pressed against the constables isn't just a personal vendetta; it's a powerful statement, an appeal for a justice that she feels has been long delayed and, until now, inadequately served.