The Delhi Police on Sunday, 17 April, arrested 21 people in connection with the communal clashes that broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Delhi's Jahangirpuri on Saturday evening. Two juveniles have also been apprehended.
Meanwhile, heavy security continues to be deployed in the area.
DCP Northwest Usha Rangani had earlier stated that nine persons, including eight police personnel and one civilian, were injured and being treated in a hospital. One sub-inspector, named Meda Lal, who sustained a bullet injury, is in a stable condition, she added.
He claimed that bullets were fired from C-block, Jahangirpuri.
Delhi CP Rakesh Asthana met Meda Lal at his residence on Sunday night to enquire about his well-being. He also assured him of all possible support from the department.
Asthana said that the entire police force was proud of his courage and sense of duty, which helped in quickly controlling the unruly mob.
The Indian Express, meanwhile, cited an official as saying that police permission had been granted for the procession, and around 50 policemen had been deployed in Jahangirpuri, along with PCRs, MVPs, and drones.
The stone-pelting and arson that ensued on Saturday evening comes days after the violence that erupted during the Ram Navami processions in several parts of the country.
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On Sunday morning, heavy security remained deployed in Jahangirpuri, while the police in all 14 districts were put on high alert with senior officers asked to be on the ground. Delhi Police also said that it was carrying out "intensive Rooftop Surveillance through aerial patrolling in sensitive areas."
"People are requested to inform police if suspicious activities take place in their area or any group indulges in argument," Pathak added.
Meanwhile, preventive patrolling was undertaken throughout the night.
What Happened at the March?
Inspector Rajeev Ranjan, who was deployed in the Jahangirpuri Police Station area, said in the First Information Report (FIR) statement that the Hanuman Jayanti procession was underway peacefully, but when it reached near C-Block mosque, a man with about five more people started arguing with those taking part in the procession.
Later, stone-pelting erupted from both sides, Ranjan said.
He added, "Police engaged in security for the religious procession separated the two groups but after some time clashes erupted between the two sides."
The police had said earlier that an argument broke out between two communities after which "things escalated, and both sides started pelting stones at each other. They damaged public property and torched vehicles."
Twenty-seven-year-old Mastan, a resident of Block C, told The Indian Express that he was out buying fruits when people taking part in the Hanuman Jayanti rally raised slogans such as “Bharat mein rehna hoga toh Jai Shri Ram kehna hoga. (If you want to stay in India, you will have to chant Jai Shri Ram.)"
Meanwhile, DCP North-West Rangnani informed that the accused person who opened fire, identified as 21-year-old Md Aslam Ali, had been arrested. The pistol used by him during the commission of crime has been recovered from his possession, she added.
Ali has also been found previously involved in a 2020 case registered in Jahangirpuri police station under Sections 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile, the 14 people arrested have been booked under the following Sections of the IPC:
147 (punishment for rioting)
148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon)
149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object)
186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions)
353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty)
332 (voluntarily causes hurt)
323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt)
427 (damage)
436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy house)
307 (attempt to murder)
120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy)
Section 27 of the Arms Act.
Meeting Organised With Members of Aman Committee
In order to maintain peace and tranquility in the area, a meeting was organised by DCP North-West at Kushal Chowk in Jahangirpuri with the members of the Aman Committee of Jahangirpuri PS, Mahendra Park PS, and Adarsh Nagar PS.
All the members were asked to appeal to the public in their areas to maintain peace, harmony, and tranquility.
As per police, Aman Committee meetings are taking place in other districts as well.
They were also requested to counter any rumour or misinformation, be vigilant about the activities of any mischievous or anti-social elements, keep in touch with police, and ensure immediate reporting of anything suspicious.
The Delhi Police has also assured to conduct a professional and fair investigation and take due legal action.
Police officials have reached out to communities and appealed to maintain peace and harmony at all times.
Meanwhile, DCP Shahadra said that members of the Muslim community had welcomed the Hanuman Jayanti procession near Jagatpuri police station in Shahadra District with flowers and refreshments.
'Central Govt Has Responsibility To Maintain Peace in Delhi': Kejriwal
"The incident of stone pelting in the procession in Jahangir Puri, Delhi is highly condemnable. Strict action should be taken against those who are guilty. Appeal to all people- maintain peace by standing together (sic)," Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had written on Twitter after the clashes were reported.
"Spoke to Hon’ble LG. He assured that all steps are being taken to ensure peace and that guilty will not be spared," he had added.
The CM also appealed to the central government to ensure peace in the national capital, where the police force falls under the ambit of the Centre.
"I appeal to everyone to maintain peace as the country can not progress without it. Central government has the responsibility to maintain peace in the national capital."
Meanwhile, all those who were injured have been admitted to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Jahangirpuri for treatment, as per NDTV.
'Pre-Orchestrated and Politically Sponsored': Sanjay Raut
Commenting on Saturday's incident, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "The atmosphere of the country is being deliberately spoiled to gain political advantage in elections. Such incidents never happened before on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, these festivals were celebrated peacefully."
He added that these incidents were pre-orchestrated and politically sponsored.
"It's being done to instigate Hindu-Muslim riots just because issues of Hindu-Pakistan, surgical strikes, and Ram Mandir won't work," Raut added.
Kapil Mishra Calls Clashes 'Terrorist Attack,' Says Illegal Settlements Should Be 'Bulldozed'
Meanwhile, several BJP leaders, including Kapil Mishra, BJP Delhi chief Adesh Gupta, and MP Manoj Tiwari have alleged a conspiracy behind the clashes and pointed fingers at "Bangladeshi infiltrators" and "Rohingya refugees".
Calling for houses to be bulldozed, controversial BJP-leader Mishra said, "Jahangirpuri is an area known for illegal Bangladeshi settlers. It is necessary that they be identified, that their homes be bulldozed. Each hand that has picked up a stone or a petrol bomb today, such action should be taken that the hands can never be raised again," Mishra said.
Manoj Tiwari, the BJP MP from Northeast Delhi, said, “This incident did not occur all of a sudden; it is a conspiracy...Though the situation is getting back to normal… there should be a thorough probe on who are the culprits, where the stones came from… Their houses should be checked for weapons, and their IDs."
Meanwhile, BJP MP from North-West Delhi, Hans Raj Hans, appealing to all to maintain peace, said, "There're some bad elements in every religion, they're responsible for such incidents. There could be some foreign powers behind this that want to weaken India."
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