Death toll rises to 22 in Delhi riots

What started off as clashes between pro- and anti-citizenship (Amendment) Act groups over the weekend further degenerated into communal violence on Tuesday — the signs were already there on Monday — with rioters from both communities, armed with guns, swords, sticks, and stones, running amok on the streets. Till Tuesday, Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Randhawa said 11 first information reports had been registered and 20-25 persons had been detained in connection with the violence.

The police had also directed the imposition of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure that prohibits the assembly of four or more people in violencehit areas.

Clashes had broken out in the 1.2km stretch from Jafrabad to Maujpur on Monday, but violence was also reported from areas such as Bhajanpura, Kardampuri, Shastri Park, Brahmpuri and Jyoti Nagar. Rioters damaged two fire tenders in Gokalpuri, and crowds shouting incendiary slogans set on fire a bike in Maujpur. The warring groups besieged the narrow lanes of Jafrabad and adjacent areas, and came to blows. The rioters also set some of the houses on fire. On Wednesday, NSA Doval was greeted warmly at some places in north-east Delhi, but at least two agitated locals complained about the violence in some areas.

Doval said he was there as per the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. “The situation is under control and people are satisfied. We have confidence in law enforcement agencies. Police is doing their job and is alert,” he told reporters.

“Police is working hard. Only some criminals were involved in this. One should try resolving issues and not increasing them. There were incidents earlier but today it is calm. Locals want peace. We have full faith there will be peace,” he said.

Earlier, Doval, who has been tasked with checking the violence, held a meeting with the top brass of the Delhi Police at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) in Seelampur.

Additional commissioner of police (crime) Mandeep Singh Randhawa, newly-appointed special CP SN Shrivastava, special CP (law and order) Satisha Golcha and DCP of north-east Delhi Ved Prakash Arya were among those present in the meeting that lasted just over 30 minutes.

Delhi chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, a political opponent, c a l l e d f o r t h e a r my t o b e deployed and for a curfew to be imposed at the flashpoint areas.

“Police, despite all its efforts, [are] unable to control situation and instil confidence,” Kejriwal tweeted. Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a rare press c o nf e r e nc e i n t he c i t y o n Wednesday, attacking both the Centre and the Kejriwal-led Delhi government for the communal violence. Speaking to the media after chairing a Congress Working Committee ( CWC) meeting, she demanded home minister Amit Shah’s resignation and alleged there was a “well-planned” conspiracy behind the clashes.

“The CWC believes the situation is grave and an urgent action is required and adequate security forces must be deployed to bring situation under control and peace committees must be formed in mohallas,” Gandhi said, reading out from the CWC resolution.

The Delhi chief minister must be visible in the affected areas and be in constant communication with the people, she said.

DELHI CHIEF MINISTER, ARVIND KEJRIWAL, A POLITICAL OPPONENT, CALLED FOR THE ARMY TO BE DEPLOYED AND FOR A CURFEW TO BE IMPOSED AT THE FLASHPOINT AREAS

“There are videos from all sides. Let the petitioner inform the court as to why he only chose three clips in a PIL. There’s selective public outrage based on these three videos,” said Mehta.

The solicitor general also said that hate speeches were made from all sections during the violence, and that he has the videos to prove it. “If I start playing these clips, there will be an inflammatory situation,” said Mehta. He also accused the petitioner of lowering the morale of Delhi Police by showing these clips.

But t he court was not impressed by the argument. “By saying that, you’re painting the police in a worse picture,” said Justice Muralidhar. “When you have multiple clips of inflammatory speeches, what are you waiting for? Why aren’t you registering the FIR? All the videos will be placed before the police commissioner and he should then take a conscious decision.”

The court posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday.

The court had earlier asked the clip of Kapil Mishra to be played in the courtroom after the petitioner argued that the BJP leader made an inflammatory speech in Maujpur, which led to escalation of tension in North-east Delhi.

The speeches of Thakur and Verma highlighted by the petitioner were made ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi earlier this month.

“... we should never allow another 1984... especially under the watch of the court and under your [Delhi Police] watch... We have to be very, very alert,” the bench said.

In a midnight hearing on Tuesday, the Delhi HC had directed police to ensure safe passage to government hospitals and emergency treatment for those injured in the communal violence.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuked the Delhi Police for failing to act “professionally” and to check “unfortunate incidents” of violence in north-east Delhi. However, it refused to entertain pleas related to the riots over the contentious citizenship law.

The apex court lashed out at the law enforcing agencies for allowing the “instigators of violence” to get away and said they should act “independently” as per law without waiting for somebody’s nod.

“I f s o mebody makes a n inflammatory remark, police has to take action,” it said.

At least 22 people have been killed and more than 250 injured aft er violence broke out i n Jafrabad, Maujpur, Chand Bagh and other localities of Northeast Delhi. The groups protesting for and against the Citizenship (Amendment) act or CAA were seen roaming on streets with swords and pistols. Houses and v e h i c l e s i n t h e a r e a were torched in two days of violence.