Following the violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri during the Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra, the Delhi police have imposed Section 144 to ensure peace in the area. Videos from the Shobha yatra surfaced on social media as the police arrested the main accused on Sunday. On Saturday, 14 others were also arrested in connection with the violence.
Stone-pelting during the procession allegedly led to clashes between communities which reportedly left nine persons injured including eight police.
A Delhi police Sub-Inspector suffered bullet injuries to his hand. The main accused Aslam who allegedly fired at the SI is among the arrested persons, the police have reportedly seized a country-made pistol from his possession.
Police say that few other suspects were identified based on CCTV footage, and efforts were on to arrest them. Cases have been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) pertaining to the attempt to murder, rioting, and arms act. Ten police teams including the Crime branch and a special cell has been constituted to investigate the incident.
As per the FIR registered by the Delhi police, the procession was passing through a mosque, when Aslam, one of the accused began arguing with the members of the procession. The argument escalated to a level where both the sides began pelting stones at each other, added the FIR.
Accounts of residents, videos that surfaced on social media:
In a video that surfaced on social media from the procession, people can be seen waving saffron flags and carrying shotguns and pistols.
The video broadcasted by India Today, shared by Journalist Mohammed Zubair on Twitter, is of the procession passing through CD Block Market, Jahangirpuri, right before the clashes began.
A local residing in the area alleged that two Shobha yatras passed peacefully, however, when another passed for the third time in the evening around 6 PM, a few tried to enter the mosque in the area and hoist a saffron flag inside it.
Video of Bharatiya Janata Party Mandir Prakshot President, Karnail Singh raising slogans of “Jisko Is Desh Mein Rehna Hoga Jai Sri Ram Kehna Hoga” right in front of the mosque that became the heart of the conflict last evening during Shobha Yatra, has also surfaced.
Updates so far:
The police put Jahangirpuri area on alert ahead of the Hanuman Jayanti processions. On Sunday morning CRPF and the Rapid Action Force were called upon to maintain peace in the area. The police organised a meeting with the peace committee urging them to maintain peace.
Locals were also urged to be mindful of rumours regarding the situation. Delhi police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana held a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah to brief him about the law and order situation in Jahangirpuri.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the incident that occurred last night, appealing to people to maintain calm amidst the tensions. Kumar took to Twitter and said, “Appeal to everyone to hold each others’ hands and maintain peace.”
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