‘ Love jihad’ rumour sparks mob rampage
SHO, four others injured
At least five policemen, including a station house officer, were injured and vehicles damaged after an angry mob agitated over the visit of two schoolgirls to a youth’s house in Karawal Nagar area of northeast district. According to the police, two police motorcycles were set on afire while one Gypsy was damaged by the mob. Sources said that as the two girls and a youth belonged to two different communities, the tension escalated. The chaos started at about 8.30 am when the locals spotted two girls in school uniform entering the house of a local youth, identified as Amir. “The two girls, both 15 and Class 9 students in a local government school, left their houses to go to school,” said the police, adding that “the two were dropped by one of their uncles outside the school.” However, the police added, after sometime, both were picked by relative of one of the girls, Sunil, 23, who took them to Amir’s house at street number 11, Shiv Vihar colony. “When the locals saw the two entering Amir’s house, they first gheraoed his house and than brought the youths and the girls outside.”
The police added that all of them were beaten up. One of the two youth was critically beaten up by the mob. Later, the police reached the spot after someone made the PCR call and the four were rescued from the house. The locals, however, alleged that not only did the cops reach the spot late; they let Amir escape from the spot. Sunil, on the other hand, was admitted to the Guru Teg Bahadur hospital where his condition is said to be critical.
Alleging inaction, the locals than started pelting stones on the police party in which five policemen were injured. Besides, two motorcycles were set on fire and one gypsy was vandalized. Extra force had to be called- in and senior district officers rushed to the spot. The crowd had to be dispersed using mild lathicharge.
The injured police officers have been identified as SHO, Karawal Nagar police station Jashod Singh Mehta, sub- inspector Manoj, assistant subinspector Yogesh Tyagi, head constable Pramod and constable Rajendra. A case under relevant sections of rioting was registered at the Karawal Nagar police station. All policemen are recuperating in the hospital.
The police are looking for CCTV footages and other recorded videos to ascertain who were leading the riots. Deputy commissioner of police, northeast district, R. A. Sanjeev said that there was a rumour that triggered the riots but refused to comment on what it was.