Cop shot, 7 injured as groups clash in Delhi
NEW DELHI: Clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim groups during a religious procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on Saturday, injuring six policemen and a resident, days after similar violence in six states in similar circumstances.
The incident took place when a procession of 350-400 people to mark Hanuman Jayanti was crossing the area, where a scuffle first broke out and then escalated into stone pelting, eyewitnesses and police officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said. A Delhi Police subinspector was shot and is being treated at a city hospital, officials said, without disclosing whether they have identified the shooter.
It was also not immediately clear what led to the scuffle that snowballed into a chaotic situation in which both sides threw stones at each other and damaged a number of parked vehicles and shops. Eyewitnesses HT spoke to were divided, with some saying the attack on the procession was unprovoked while others said that there were attempts made to hoist saffron flags on a mosque amid provocative sloganeering.
Police officials did not confirm either sequence of events and said the matter was under investigation. The groups were broken up by tear gas shelling and by late night, heavy police deployment was made in the area to prevent further violence.
Other parts of the national capital were also put on high alert in the evening. Delhi police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said the situation was under control and that an order had been issued to senior police officers to be on the field.