Delhi riots: 1,000 armed policemen being deployed in capital, violence continues unabated in Maujpur area

PTI, Feb 25, 2020, 4:17 PM IST

New Delhi: Violence continued unabated in Maujpur area of northeast Delhi on Tuesday, February 25 with two groups of people out on the road armed with rods and sticks.

An angry mob raising incendiary slogans set ablaze a motorcycle in Maujpur, a PTI reporter witnessed. A fire brigade was also seen rushing to the spot.

Security personnel tried to disperse the people from both sides who were armed with rods and sticks. They also resorted to stone-pelting.

However, the crowd was more than the security personnel deployed in the area. Media personnel were also heckled and driven away from the spot.

Seven people, including a police head constable, were killed as violence spiralled over the amended citizenship law on Monday.

According to police sources, 48 police personnel and 98 civilians were injured in the communal clashes at Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chandbagh, Khureji Khas and Bhajanpura. Three firemen also received injuries while dousing flames in the area.

The officials on Tuesday, February 25 said that an armed battalion of Delhi Police comprising around 1,000 personnel are being deployed in violence-hit areas of Delhi to ensure peace while inter-state borders are being closely monitored.

This was conveyed at a high-level meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Delhi’s LG Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Commissioner of Police Amulya Patnaik among others.

It was also decided in the meeting to enhance police-MLA coordination in the national capital and also reactive peace committees with representatives of all sections of society, religions and eminent local citizens, an official said.

Special officers along with the additional forces are being deployed in violence-hit areas of Delhi where at least seven people, including a policeman, were killed.

An armed battalion of the Delhi Police is being deployed to ensure peace in affected areas, the official said.

Borders of Delhi with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are being monitored by the police for the last three days and Delhi Police has been taking adequate steps like checks and other precautionary measures, especially in view of the upcoming Supreme Court hearing on the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act at Shaheen Bagh here.

According to professional assessment, the violence in the capital has been spontaneous and the forces have shown maximum restraint and will continue to do so.

The home minister noted that many hoaxes and rumours are being spread, which occupies the resources of the police and appealed to the public at large and media to communicate responsibly and avoid spreading unverified rumours.

He asked the Police Commissioner of Delhi to depute senior officers in police control rooms so that rumours can be dispelled as quickly as possible.

He said, “Warnings are being given by the police in response to hate speeches that vitiate the atmosphere.”

“Feedback has been taken from local representatives and incorporated in the further course of action after discussions with the Lieutenant Governor and the Delhi Police Commissioner,” another official said.

Shah emphasised on the need to avoid criticism of Delhi Police and said that unnecessary and unwarranted criticism can have a negative impact on the morale of the force.

He said that the Delhi Police is a professional organisation and is adequately empowered to be able to decide on the amount of force needed to defuse tensions where necessary.