Peace committees help contain violence

NEW DELHI: Unlike Sunday’s violence in Jamia Millia Islamia that had lasted several hours, Tuesday’s incident was quelled by police within two hours, thanks to the peacekeeping committees.

A team of around 35 people from organisations in Seelampur and Jafrabad met with senior police officers and elders in the region to dissuade the public from going out of control.

“Tuesday’s protest was not an organised one, but spontaneous,” said Fahim Baig from the Nagrik Suraksha Samiti, a peacekeeping body in northeast Delhi. The committee is a body of volunteers who interact with the police and residents to ensure peace in the area. “We make sure no innocent person gets caught for the act of antisocial elements. Locals had gathered around 10 am and they got some shops closed. They then protested and raised slogans against the Citizenship Act but everything was peaceful, until some groups joined them and forcefully got the shops on the main Seelampur road closed. They also stopped two DTC buses, and vandalised them. There were passengers in buses one of whom we heard was assaulted. We came to know they also burnt two police bikes in front of police help center.”

The committee met with eminent locals to ensure violent did not escalate.

The group also met religious leaders in the area and requested them to advise youngsters not to indulge in rioting. They got people to urge locals through loudspeakers to maintain peace.

Baig, who is the chairman of the committee, said after the Delhi police detained five people in connection of inciting violence, his team visited the police station and met their family members.

He added that they are maintaining a distance from local politicians. “Tomorrow (Wednesday), we will hold a meeting with local religious leaders we are keeping a distance from political leaders as we don’t want to politicise the matter,” he said.