Peace bodies work with police to calm simmering tension
It was a meeting about restoration of peace, not about discussing completely irrelevant issues USHA RANGNANI, DCP north-west, responding to a BJP councillor’s claims that she was not allowed to speak at the meet
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Sunday organised a meeting of the Aman (peace) Committees to ensure lasting peace in Jahangirpuri after nine people were injured in stone pelting and shooting during communal violence in the area on Saturday evening even as a large contingent of police and Rapid Action Force personnel was deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
According to the police, deputy commissioner of police (north-west) Usha Rangnani members of the Aman Committees of Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park and Adarsh Nagar participated in the meeting. “During the meeting, all the members were asked to appeal the public in their areas to maintain peace, harmony and tranquility. They were also assured of a professional and fair investigation and due legal action on the part of police,” said Rangnani.
The committee members were also urged to counter rumours and misinformation, and asked to remain vigilant against the activities of mischievous or anti-social elements, the police said. They were also requested to keep in touch with the police and immediately report anything suspicious, they said.
BJP councillor from Adarsh Nagar, Garima Gupta, alleged that she was not allowed to speak at the meeting. “We were happy that the meeting was called. But I was not allowed to speak there. I raised the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the area. The incidents of crime are on a rise in the area because of these people. But I wasn’t allowed to speak. The DCP said that I was deviating from the topic and asked me to speak separately,” she said.
Gupta said, “The meeting lasted for less than 10 minutes. Why was it called, when they didn’t want to listen to us?”
DCP said the meeting was called for restoration of peace, not discussing irrelevant issues.
“It was a meeting about restoring peace, not about discussing completely irrelevant issues. I know how our men controlled the situation in the area. I requested the councillor to be precise and remain focused on the immediate issues,” DCP Rangnani said.
‘Aslam was trying to stop the violence’
The family of Mohmmad Aslam, accused of shooting at a police sub-inspector during the violence at a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday at Jahangirpuri, has said that he is innocent and was only trying to calm the people down, claiming that he was a juvenile. Bibi Sakina, Aslam’s sister-inlaw, said he was arrested from his house, and played no role in the violence. “He is 15. He is being made a scapegoat. He only tried to clam his friends down. He is loved by one and all in our society, irrespective of their faith,” she said.
When contacted, Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (law and order, zone-1), said that Aslam fired the bullet that injured sub-inspector Medha Lal Meena, and a countrymade pistol was recovered from him. “He was involved in a 2020 criminal case, in which his age was recorded as 20 years. While being arrested, he himself claimed told the police that he is 22,” he said.