Delhi violence: Uneasy calm prevails in Jahangirpuri; two 'main conspirators' sent to police custody

While some members of the two communities alleged that the actions of the other side triggered the violence, a few locals said the two communities have been living in the area peacefully for decades and blamed "outsiders" for the violence.

New Delhi: At least 20 people, including the two "main conspirators", were arrested over the violence in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri, where an uneasy calm prevailed on Sunday as companies of anti-riot police patrolled the streets and people mostly stayed indoors.

To cool tensions, the Delhi Police held a meeting with members of Aman (peace) Committees, and asked them to counter any rumours and appeal to people in their areas to maintain peace. Adarsh Nagar BJP Councillor Garima Gupta blamed illegal Bangladeshi immigrants for the violence and tried to raise the issue during the meeting. But, the police officer in the meeting told her she was digressing from the issue, she said.

Eight police personnel and a local were injured in stone-pelting and arson after clashes broke out between two communities in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday evening. A large number of police personnel, including anti-riot force, were deployed in the violence-hit areas of Jahangirpuri as uneasy calm prevailed on Sunday. Shops and markets near the Jahangirpuri metro station remained open on Sunday though people mostly stayed indoors. There was a heavy police deployment in C Block, the epicentre of the communal clash that left eight police personnel and a local injured on Saturday evening.

While some members of the two communities alleged that the actions of the other side triggered the violence, a few locals said the two communities have been living in the area peacefully for decades and blamed "outsiders" for the violence. BJP demanded a probe into the role of "illegal immigrants" in the incident and blamed the "ideology of appeasement" pursued by previous governments over the last 70 years for communal riots across the country. On the other hand, the Congress accused those in power of lacking empathy and called on Delhiites to stay united.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said an FIR was registered on Saturday under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 147 (rioting) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the Arms Act. "20 accused arrested and 2 juveniles in conflict with law have also been apprehended in connection with Jahangirpuri violence case. Three firearms and five swords have been recovered from the possession of the accused persons. Further investigation underway," DCP North-West Usha Rangnani was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

One of the arrested accused, Mohammad Aslam, fired a bullet that hit a Delhi Police sub-inspector. The pistol used by him has been recovered from his possession, the DCP said, adding that he has also been found to be involved in a previous case. The injured are being treated at Babu Jagjeevan Ram Memorial Hospital. The condition of the sub-inspector who received the bullet injury is stated to be stable, Rangnani said. One of the "main conspirators" behind the violence, Ansar (35), a resident of Jahangirpuri, was also found to be involved in two cases of assault and arrested a few times under preventive sections, she said.

Deependra Pathak, Special Commissioner (Law and Order-Zone 1) said efforts are being made to identify other accused through CCTV and other video footage.
"Right now, the situation is totally under control. We have our additional force deployed here. We have done peace committee meetings and are also in touch with the prominent residents of the areas. They gave assurances that they would maintain peace in their respective areas," he said.

Mukesh, a shopkeeper who stays near the mosque, said those who tried to disrupt peace in the area must have been "outsiders". "I have been staying here for the last 35 years but have never seen such violence in this area. Hindus and Muslims live here peacefully. People who were part of the procession must have been outsiders and not locals," he said.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said the clashes in Jahangirpuri are under investigation and all should wait for the outcome. He also hit out at opposition leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, over their joint statement expressing deep concern over the recent incidents of hate speech and communal violence, saying this "selective politics" is "harmful" for the country.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala urged the people of Delhi to take it upon themselves to stay united and alert. "Delhi be alert..Delhi be safe Delhi stay united. "Violence, riots and frenzy will not make religion 'safe', neither will anyone be strong, yes, our India will definitely become weak," Surjewala said. He accused those in power of lacking empathy.

A delegation of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) met Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana and submitted a memorandum demanding that culprits be identified and strict action be taken against them. According to a memorandum handed over to Asthana by the VHP delegation, the right-wing group said if the Delhi Police was not capable of providing adequate security, then Bajrang Dal members, who were part of Saturday's procession, would have to make their own security arrangements.

Delhi court sends 14 accused to custody

A Delhi court on Sunday sent two men, including a 21-year-old who allegedly fired a bullet that hit a sub-inspector in the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the city's Jahangirpuri, to police custody. Duty Magistrate Divya Malhotra sent Mohammad Aslam and another co-accused Mohammad Ansar (both considered to be the two main conspirators) to police custody till Monday, while the other 12 accused were sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

The accused in the case were produced before the court and the police alleged that Ansar and Aslam were the main conspirators who got to know about the 'Shobha Yatra' on April 15 and hatched up the conspiracy. It said the custodial interrogation of Aslam and Ansar was required to unearth the larger conspiracy and involvement of others. Delhi Police said they took the help of CCTV footage to identify the others involved in the case.

This is the first communal flare-up in the national capital since the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi which had left over 50 dead and scores injured.