A Delhi Police Head Constable died while 37 police personnel including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) were injured after pro and anti-Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) groups clashed for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other at Maujpur and Jafrabad.
Violence between groups supporting and opposing the CAA was also reported in the Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas. A youth also opened fire on the streets on Monday afternoon in the Maujpur while the police tried to control him. The man fired eight rounds before the police overpowered him. Police fired tear gas shells and also resorted lathi charge to disperse the violent crowd of protesters. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik is stationed at the police control room and is closely monitoring the situation and the police have also imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.
There was heavy stone pelting in Maujpur, while police baton-charged to disperse protesters in Jaffrabad. Shops and houses were vandalised and set on fire in Maujpur and Bhajanpura. A petrol pump was also set on fire by the protestors at Maujpur. This is the second day of clashes in the city where US President Donald Trump will arrive on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, sources in central security agencies hinted that Seelampur and other areas riots were orchestrated by certain elements to malign the image of the country during the US President Donald Trump visit.
In the evening, Minister of State, MHA, Kishan Reddy condemned the attack by rioters and taking it to twitter he wrote that “My deepest condolences to the family of the Delhi Police Head Constable who lost his life amidst the protests in Delhi. Our Narendra Modi government condemns all forms of violence and we assure a stern action against the culprits.”
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the situation in the national capital was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground. “The situation in Delhi is fully under control. The senior police officials are on the ground and sufficient forces are also deployed at the spot,” said Bhalla.
“Police had been stationed at strategically located areas where there is potential of disturbance like Jafrabad, Seelampur, Maujpur, Gautampuri, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Mustafabad, Wazirabad, Shiv Vihar to maintain law and order situation,” said Alok Kumar, the Joint Commissioner of Police, Eastern Range.
The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit an uneasy calm prevailed in the Northeast areas. “Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station,” the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.
“Entry and exit gates of Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat and Janpath have also been closed. Interchange facility will be open at Central Secretariat,” said a DMRC official. However, it is not clear if these metro stations have been closed due to Donald Trump’s arrival in Delhi or the CAA demonstrations. All these stations are close to ITC Maurya in Chanakyapuri where Donald Trump would be staying tonight.
Following the clashes, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore law and order in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.
“Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in. I sincerely urge Honble LG n Hon’ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order and ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic),” he tweeted.
“I just spoke to the LG. He has assured that more police forces are being sent. Violence will not be tolerated by anyone. I request people to maintain peace. No solution will come out of violence,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
“The death of a head constable is very sad. He was also one of us. Please give up violence. Nobody benefits from violence. All problems will be solved peacefully,” he said in another tweet.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Monday also appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours in the wake of violence in parts of northeast Delhi during protests for and against the new citizenship law.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC, which bans the assembly of four or more people, have been imposed in those areas of northeast Delhi that witnessed violence. . Beside Delhi Police personnel, around eight companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in the Northeast areas.
“Some incidents of violence and arson have been reported in areas of North East District, particularly in the areas of Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chandbagh and Dayalpur. It is appealed to the people of Delhi and particularly to the North East District to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any rumours. It is also appealed to the media not to circulate any disturbing pictures which may further aggravate the situation,” said a senior police official adding that Delhi Police is making every effort to restore normalcy.
“Section 144 has been imposed in the affected areas of North East district and strict action will be taken against miscreants and anti social elements,” the senior police official added.
“Ratan Lal, Head Constable was attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gokulpuri and he was killed in the clashes today. Several police personnel have been injured in the clashes. The DCP, Shahdara, suffered injuries to his head and hand. He was hospitalised and is doing fine,” said the senior police official.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday instructed the police commissioner to maintain law and order in the national capital in the wake of violence during clashes in northeast Delhi.
“Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony,” Baijal tweeted
Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai also urged the people in the area to maintain peace in the wake of the clashes over the citizenship law, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.
On Saturday night, a group of women blocked a carriageway outside the Jaffrabad Metro station against the CAA. Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.
The situation escalated after BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering on Sunday. Mishra demanded that police remove the anti-CAA protestors within three days. Since then northeast Delhi has been on the boil. It has also been witnessing spurts of violence.
