Delhi calm as police talk to people; death toll rises to 43
In Shaheen Bagh, several women continue to stay on road; right-wing group calls off proposed protest against anti-caa agitation; Kejriwal offers help to victims
An uneasy calm hung over north-east Delhi on Sunday, after a week of deadly violence that saw over 45 deaths.
There were no incidents of violence since Saturday, but tension remained high. Police claimed the situation is under control now. They initiated talks with local people in the riot-ripped areas where entire homes and shops have been burned down by gangs of armed goons.
The death toll has risen upto 43, with police finding two more bodies.
The police say they are urging residents to not pay attention to rumours and report them to authorities.
In Shaheen Bagh in southeast Delhi, where the 80-day old agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continued despite the violence, police deployed in large numbers on Sunday as protesters reportedly planned a march to the police headquarters.
Several women in the protest on the road continued to remain there though militant groups and even Union ministers had raised public calls to gun them down.
Right-wing group Hindu Sena had made a call to clear the Shaheen Bagh road on March 1.
The Sena called off its proposed protest against the anti-caa agitation in Shaheen Bagh after police intervened on Saturday.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government is making all efforts to provide relief material to the riot-hit people.
He said he is personally monitoring to ensure that relief material reaches each person in need. The objective of the administration at the moment is to bring these people’s life back on track, he said.
“We are putting the best efforts. I am personally trying to ensure that relief reaches each person in need. Our aim is to bring their life back on track. We want people to return to their homes and be welcomed by their neighbours,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.
The police have also started a massive outreach programme and a number of senior officers have been meeting and speaking to locals from every community in order to build confidence among them.
Several residents who fled the violence have returned to visit their homes and shops in Mustafabad to take stock of the damage. In several violence-hit areas, stores opened briefly as shopkeepers ran out of stock.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday called the violence in the national capital a “targeted structural violence.” He pinned the responsibility on the BJP government.
He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the riot-affected areas of northeast Delhi.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, meanwhile, on Sunday sanctioned a relief of Rs1 million to BSF constable Mohammad Anees, whose house was burnt in the communal violence in northeast Delhi.
The chief minister, who was saddened to know that the constable’s house was set on fire by mob, spoke to him, a statement from his office said.
Anees is associated with the 9th battalion of the border guarding force deployed in Maoistaffected district of Malkangiri in Odisha.
Union Minister of Finance Anurag Thakur, meanwhile, denied that he made a call for anti-caa protesters to be shot. Thakur said mediapersons saying such things “were lying,” and advised them to be “better informed.” “You are lying. You people should first inform yourself. Half knowledge and misinformation are dangerous,” he told the media.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday said it will hold the examinations for students at a later date for candidates who would not be able to appear for the examinations up to March 7. The CBSE said that they took the decision after consulting the Delhi Police.
Releasing the statement, CBSE said, “At the same time, considering the difficult situation that continues with some of the candidates, CBSE is prepared to hold examinations at a later date for such candidates who would not be able to appear for the examinations up to 7th March.” A man in his twenties died on Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a brutal public assault by a group of policemen who demanded him to sing the national anthem and “Vande Matharam.” The video of the attack had gone viral on social media platforms.