UP cops remain vigilant, liquor shops near Delhi border shut

nGHAZIABAD: The areas around the Delhi-ghaziabad border continued to remain peaceful on Wednesday after large-scale violence ensued following group clashes over amendments to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Officials said that three border routes between Loni and Delhi will continue to remain sealed until normalcy returns in Delhi. Liquor shops have also been directed to close down in Noida near Delhi border areas.

The Ghaziabad district magistrate, as a precautionary measure, however, directed the closure of all liquor shops within a radius of 4 kilometres from the Delhi border from 4pm on Wednesday. A similar direction had been issued for the closure of all liquor shops in the district on Tuesday evening.

“The direction for the closure of liquor shops from Wednesday evening is for all shops located within a distance of 4km from the different Delhi borders within UP. The three bordering routes, Lal Bagh, DLF Pushta and also near Karawal Nagar, will continue to remain sealed until normalcy returns in Delhi. However, we are allowing essential service vehicles to pass through the three routes after strict checking,” Ajay Shankar Pandey, district magistrate (Ghaziabad), said.

“The Rapid Action Force, provincial armed constabulary and the civil police remain deployed in Loni and other areas that are considered sensitive. No untoward incident has taken place within the jurisdiction of the Ghaziabad district. The force will remain deployed and prohibitory orders are already in place,” he added.

The officials said that the police are also deployed in places like Shaheed Nagar, Muradnagar, Kaila Bhatta, Dasna and Masuri areas. Some of these had reported incidents of stone-pelting and violence on December 20, 2019, during the initial stages of protest against the CAA.

The police are also conducting peace meetings with different community members at police post levels across the district.

The areas of north-east Delhi, near Loni town of Ghaziabad, had witnessed incidents of largescale violence for two days. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had also visited some of these places along with senior officials of the Delhi Police to assess the situation and speak to people.

Meanwhile, all liquor shops adjoining the Delhi-noida borders also remained closed on Wednesday.