New Delhi : A civilian succumbed to injuries hours after a police head constable was killed in the clashes that broke out between pro- and anti-CAA groups in the aftermath of the tension that escalated in northeast Delhi on Monday afternoon. About 50 people, including 30 police personnel and a deputy commissioner of police (Shahdara) were also injured in the violence. Protesters also torched a petrol pump, two houses, seven shops, a dozen-odd vehicles and a fire tender in Jafrabad and Maujpur, where clashes occurred for the second consecutive day. A total of eight CRPF companies have been deployed in the North-East Delhi area, including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and a company of women security personnel.
Hours after head constable Rattan Lal (42) died of head injuries, violence claimed another life of a civilian, Furqan Mohammad. The civilian too is said to have died of head injuries. The injured are undergoing treatment at Guru Teg Bahadur hospital and other local medical centres.
The clashes took place hours before US President Donald Trump arrived in the city. Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the violent crowd. The police imposed section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits assembly of four or more people, in 10 violence affected areas of north-east Delhi. The Delhi Metro also shut entry and exit gates of five stations — Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar.
Union minister of state for home G Kishan Reddy said violence was orchestrated with an eye on Mr Trump’s visit to the country. He tweeted : “ I condemn it. The Government of India will not tolerate violence. We will take strict action against those responsible. MHA is monitoring the situation.”
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the situation was fully under control and sufficient forces were deployed on the ground. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal instructed police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order. Taking to Twitter, Mr Baijal said, “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 the maintenance of peace and harmony.” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also urged the Centre to restore law and order in the city.
Amid the violence that consumed parts of northeast Delhi, a chilling moment emerged from Jaffrabad, where an unidentified man with a handgun confronted an unarmed Delhi Police officer, intimidating him and forcing him to back away with his hands raised before firing repeatedly into the air.
In a video of the horrific incident, shot on a mobile phone by an eyewitness standing on the roof of a nearby building, the lone officer – dressed in riot gear – is seen standing in the middle of a main street as the gunman and at least six others approach him.
The video showed the brave cop standing tall and seemingly unafraid as the gunman saunters up to him, waving the gun and shouting. The gunman fired once into the air as stones and chunks of concrete rained down all around him. As the gunman pointed his gun at him, the police officer slowly retreated, holding his hands away from his body to indicate he was unarmed. The gunman then walked right up to the police officer and shoved him away before firing in the air once more.
As he fired, protesters on the other side of the road could be seen scattering in fear. Displaying exemplary courage, the police officer then raised his hands and slowly walked away again, even as other miscreants shouted and threw stones at him. A protester was also seen moving towards a Delhi Police personnel with a gun in his hand. He shot a few rounds in the air.
On Saturday night, a group of women blocked a carriageway outside the Jafrabad Metro station against the CAA. Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jafrabad 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. Mr 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.
