Deadly clashes shadow meeting
HINDUS carrying pickaxes and iron rods hurled rocks at Muslims protesting a new citizenship law on a second day of deadly clashes that have cast a shadow over US President Donald Trump’s visit to India.
At least 19 people have been killed and scores injured.
After his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Trump told reporters he had heard about the violence but did not discuss it with Mr Modi.
Black smoke rose into the sky over northeastern New Delhi after Hindu protesters set fruit and vegetable shops and a Muslim shrine on fire, witnesses said.
The death toll in the violence late yesterday was at least 19.
In addition to the deaths, at least 186 people – 56 police officers and 130 protesters – have been injured in the clashes since Monday, said Anil Kumar, a New Delhi police spokesman.
Authorities shut schools in the violence-hit areas.
The Press Trust of India news agency reported said police had arrested one person and detained 20 people for questioning for alleged involvement in the violence.
Television images showed streets littered with mangled remains of vehicles, rocks and burnt tires in the worst hit areas of Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Gokulpuri, Maujpur, Kardampuri and Jaffrabad, which witnessed battles between the rival groups who also hurled petrol bombs and opened fire on Monday and Tuesday.
India has been rocked by violence since Parliament approved a new citizenship law in December that provides fasttrack naturalisation for some foreign-born religious minorities but not Muslims.
Critics have said the country is moving towards a religious citizenship test.
Mr Trump declined to comment on the new law.
I DON’T WANT TO DISCUSS THAT. I WANT TO LEAVE THAT TO INDIA AND HOPEFULLY THEY’RE GOING TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE
“I don’t want to discuss that. I want to leave that to India and hopefully they’re going to make the right decision for the people,” he said.
The group of protesting Hindus shouted praise for Hindu gods and goddesses.
Police fired tear gas to disperse them and a group of rival Muslims. The two groups retreated to the opposite sides of a highway.
Also on Tuesday, protesters in other areas of northeastern New Delhi defied orders prohibiting the assembly of more than five people, throwing stones and setting several shops and vehicles on fire.