13 killed, over 180 injured in riots during Trump visit
Shoot-at-sight orders issued in violence-hit northeast Delhi areas
Thirteen people were killed and more than 180 injured, including 70 with gunshot wounds, in clashes between opposing groups in New Delhi, a police official said yesterday, as riots in parts of the city overshadowed Donald Trump’s first visit to India.
The clashes, the worst in the capital since protests against a new controversial citizenship law started more than two months ago, began over the weekend, but turned deadly on Monday. Fresh violence erupted in multiple parts of northeast Delhi yesterday, just miles away from where Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for talks. Shoot-at-sight orders were issued in riot-hit northeast Delhi areas.
Delhi Police spokesperson ACP Mandeep Singh Randhawa confirmed that 186 people have been injured while 10 died in the violence.
A fire department official said his teams responded to more than a dozen separate calls relating to arson incidents yesterday.
Police protection
“We have sought police protection as our vehicles are being blocked from entering the affected areas. The situation is very grim,” said Delhi Fire Department director Atul Garg.
He said the violence had not diminished since Monday despite authorities imposing
There is a flow of injured people still coming in. There are casualties. There are all kinds of injuries — many pellet injuries and some from sharp weapons, too.”
Dr Rajesh Kalra | Additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi
an emergency law prohibiting any gatherings in the violence-hit areas. One fire department vehicle was torched by protesters on Monday and a small number of firemen had been injured, he added.
Local television channel images showed huge clouds of smoke billowing from a tyre market that was set alight, and mobs wielding sticks and stones were seen walking down the streets in parts of northeast Delhi amid fresh reports of stone-pelting.
“There is a flow of injured people still coming in. There are casualties,” said Dr Rajesh
Kalra, the additional medical superintendent at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi.
“There are all kinds of injuries — many pellet injuries and some from sharp weapons, too,” said Kalra, adding that some of the injured brought in on Monday had gunshot wounds.
The CAA has sparked accusations that Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are undermining India’s secular traditions. The BJP denies any bias against India’s more than 180 million-strong Muslim minority, but objectors have been holding protests and camping out in parts of New Delhi for two months.
Provocative speeches
Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Delhi LG Anill Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik among others over the violence.
As criticism mounted about ruling party leaders’ provocative speeches, Shah urged for calm. Kejriwal also appealed for people to maintain peace.
“Whatever problems people have can be resolved peacefully,” he said. “Violence will not help find a solution.” Schools in the northeast of the city were shut yesterday and at least five metro stations in the city were closed.
A Reuters witness in the area saw paramilitary troops armed with assault rifles patrolling streets that were strewn with rocks and shards of glass.