Seelampur Violence: Meet the Peacemakers Who Prevented Escalation

Two locals in Seelampur were called by the police to act as ‘peacemakers’ as Tuesday’s violence picked up momentum.

(Photo: Erum Gour/ The Quint)

Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui

On 17 December 2019, as a protest led by thousands of locals in north east Delhi’s Seelampur locality turned violent, it was a local madrasa that helped in initiating a dialogue between the police and the protesters.

The principal of Babul-Uloom Madrasa Mohammed Daud was then called upon by the Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh asking him to make an appeal.

Few others such as local RWA (Residents’ Welfare Association) General Secretary Dr Faheem Baig also rushed to the spot and made fervent appeals through the loudspeakers outside the madrasa.

Since the request came from the elderly and fairly known locals in the area, the protesters immediately dispersed, thus avoiding further casualties.

Maulana Daud, principal of the Babul-Uloom Madrasa, was called by the police to make an appeal to the protesters.

“The DCP requested us to reach out to people. I told the protesters that their thoughts have been conveyed to the government.”

Mohammed Daud, Principal, Madrasa Babul-Uloom

Mohammed Daud, who is also the Imam at the local masjid for the last 30 years, claims he hasn’t seen such a large-scale protest before.

The anti-CAA sentiment is evident in Seelampur as one walks through lanes on either side of the main road near the Jaffrabad police station which witnessed maximum violence on Tuesday.

‘NO CAB’ slogans could be seen painted in red on the pillars leading to the metro station; ‘Seelampur hamara hai (Seelampur is ours)’ declares another poster outside a stationery shop.

The general secretary of Jaffrabad’s RWA, Dr Fahim Baig, recalled the events of the day sitting in his clinic from where he has also been urging the locals not to participate in public gatherings for the next few days.

“The public had outnumbered the police. Some blacklisted persons like drug addicts and chain snatchers were behind the ruckus.”

Dr Fahim Baig

Dr Fahim Baig at his clinic in Seelampur.

Baig also voices the concerns regarding the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and says that the government needs to come clear on the new legislation.

“People are asking for livelihood and they [government] are engaged in all this. Such divisive politics should be avoided.”

Dr Fahim Baig

Even as timely intervention by the likes of Mohammed Daud and Dr Baig prevented the violence from spilling over, both agree that there is anger among locals.

On 18 December 2019, when the police began arresting and detaining few locals in connection with the violence, a small group had called for a public meeting again but it was called off on the advice of peacemakers.