Capital remains tense, toll rises ‘Take decision on lodging FIRS for hate speeches’
COMMUNAL RIOTS Death toll up to 22, says hospital official as security forces conduct flag marches ‘UNDER CONTROL’ NSA Ajit Doval visits violence-hit areas in north-east Delhi, briefs home minister Amit Shah
NEW DELHI: The death toll in the riots in northeast Delhi rose to 22 on Wednesday as government machinery and security forces stepped up vigil to restore order in the violence-hit areas of the Capital where supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and those opposing it have clashed since Monday.
Amid criticism over late action by the Delhi Police, which is handled by the Union Home Ministry, national security adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday visited the violencehit areas of Delhi for the second time in 24 hours and said the situation was under control. He later briefed home minister Amit Shah over the law and order situation, officials told news agency PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for calm on Wednesday after communal violence in the national capital as opposition leaders called for the army to be called in to restore peace in the area.
“I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times. It is important... calm and normalcy is restored at the earliest,” Modi tweeted.
The death toll rose from 13 a day before to 22 on Wednesday,
GTB Hospital medical superintendent Sunil Kumar said. Most of the over 200 injured in the communal clashes were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The situation appeared to be largely peaceful except stray incidents of violence on Wednesday while the police and paramilitary forces held flag marches in violence-hit Jafrabad, MaujpurBabarpur and Gokulpuri.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said on Wednesday all stations that had been closed since clashes broke out have been re-opened and that services have resumed.
Though the protesters shifted from the main road under the Jafrabad Metro st ati on on Wednesday morning, there were reports of a fresh round of violence in Chand Bagh and Gokulpuri. Some protesters started pelting stones, which led to a crackdown by cops in these areas.
On Wednesday, the body of an Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer was found in a drain in northeast Delhi’s riot-hit Chand Bagh area where he lived, officials said.
Ankit Sharma, 26, was missing since Tuesday and may have been killed in stone pelting, PTI quoted officials as saying. His body was taken to the GTB Hospital for an autopsy.
NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister
Governments worldwide were scrambling to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus after fresh infections emerged linked to European hotspot Italy amid dire warnings that countries are not
SONIA GANDHI, Congress president ready to contain the outbreak.
I n t he Middle East, I ran emerged as a major hotspot, with 44 further infections reported across the country in the past 24 hours.
ARVIND KEJRIWAL, Delhi CM
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday expressed its displeasure that no case has been registered in connection with clashes in North-east Delhi and asked the Delhi Police Commissioner to take a “conscious decision” on registration of FIRS over inflammatory speeches made during the violence.
“Just register FIRS. You showed alacrity in lodging FIRS for arson, why aren’t you showing the same for registering FIR for these speeches?” said Justice Muralidhar.
“The more and more you delay (registration of FIR), the more problems are getting created,” the judge added. “No registration of FIR gives a wrong message to the society. The city is burning.”
A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Talwant Singh was hearing a peti t i on f i l e d by retired bureaucrat Harsh Mander over violence in North-east Delhi. The petitioner had sought registration of FIR and arrest of those involved in violence, deployment of the army in the national capital and compensa
Peace and harmony are central to our ethos... It is important... calm and normalcy is restored at the earliest.
what has happened in Delhi is a colossal failure of duty for which the entire responsibility must be borne...
Situation alarming... Army should be called in and curfew imposed in rest of affected areas immediately.