More than a dozen policemen, including DCP Amit Sharma of Shahdara district, were injured in stone pelting
The miscreants attacked the police with petrol bombs and also fired several rounds.
When the police chased the miscreants, they set on fire many houses, shops and dozens of vehicles
New Delhi, 24 February: Violence spreading in Jafrabad area of โโNorth East Delhi has reached Bhajanpura on Monday. Here, miscreants set ablaze to dozens of vehicles including petrol pump, a religious site, several houses.
However, on being stopped by the police, they were attacked by miscreants with petrol bombs. Even fired several rounds. More than a dozen policemen and more than 30 people, including DCP Amit Sharma of Shahdara district, were injured in the stone pelting. The miscreants tried to set fire to a religious site near Zafarabad-Maujpur in the morning, but those present there extinguished the fire.
People started demonstrations near the metro station of Zafarabad two days ago over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). People became violent when the police protested and violent clashes erupted on both sides. Its impact reached Bhajanpura area of โโNorth East Delhi on Monday via Maujpur. Around three in the afternoon, the crowd suddenly reached a petrol pump and set it on fire. During this time, people of both groups came face to face. Stones were started from both sides. When the police tried to chase the crowd from the pump, the police were attacked by petrol bombs on behalf of the mob and during this time the miscreants also opened fire on each other. Several policemen were injured in the violence. Due to the large crowd, the police once again retreated, but again the police started chasing the people.
Shahdara DCP Amit Sharma was injured and his car was damaged in the stone pelting during this period. Other injured police personnel, including the DCP, were rushed to the hospital. During this time a mob of miscreants set fire to a religious place located at Chandbagh Chowk. The police chased down the miscreants and set fire to several houses, shops and dozens of vehicles. The police force took the front and left the tear gas shells and dispersed the people, but by keeping a distance, the two sides pelted stones at each other.
Yogendra Yadav said, remember the creepy scene of 1984
Swaraj India’s national president Yogendra Yadav said it was very frightening by tweeting a viral video of arson at a religious place in Bhajanpura. He said that watching the video clip of the violence recalls the horrific scene of 1984, when there was unseemly arson in the capital.
Police registered a case of rioting
The uproar began after a quarrel over the transaction of rupees at the hotel in Sherpur, Dayalpur on Sunday night. After this, the miscreants set about a dozen vehicles on fire. A dozen people were injured in the stone pelting. In this case, the police has started an investigation registered a case of rioting. Police have started identifying the accused using CCTV camera footage and viral video near the scene of the incident.
Closed schools were too set fire
A petrol pump was set on fire in Bhajanpura during the violence. Two closed schools were set on fire in Khajuri. With this, more than 35 vehicles were set ablaze in addition to 25 shops and houses. A religious site in Chand Bagh was also set on fire. Goods were also looted in several shops. The miscreants dominated the police throughout the day. Seeing the situation becoming uncontrolled, the police imposed Section-144 in ten police station areas in the evening but it did not show any effect.
Condition worsened after BJP leader Kapil Mishra’s sit-in
On Sunday, angry BJP leader Kapil Mishra began a sit-in strike in Maujpur in support of the CAA after CAA opponents blocked the road in Zafarabad. Some people threw stones at this strike. Since then, the situation has worsened. On Sunday, 15 people were injured in the violence. The figure crossed 100 on Monday. The violence resumed again on Zafarabad Road Maujpur. Here stones started coming from Kabir Nagar and Kardampuri. In response, the people of Maujpur also went out. If the police used to chase the crowd on one side, people would come out of the streets. Thousands of people gathered on both sides of the road. It became difficult for the police to control this.
Tear gas shells failed to control violence
The Deputy Commissioner of Police of North Eastern and Eastern Districts arrived on the spot to march with the force but the people were not ready to move from the stir site. Hundreds of tear gas shells were released. After this, people would move away for some time but would come face to face again. A similar situation was also seen in Zafarabad area.
Meanwhile, violence spread on Wazirabad Road. Here petrol pumps were set on fire with vehicles. After this, the people of Bhajanpura also went out. People on both sides were started setting on fire to the shops and vehicles of the opponents. Several shops and houses were also set on fire at Sherpur Chowk in Karawal Nagar. The police remained neutral during this period. The teargas shells of the police used to pacify the miscreants for a while, but they would again resort to violence.
School children also stranded in protest
School children were also stranded in demonstrations at many places. These children were evacuated from police and security forces in Maujpur. During this time Baburpur-Maujpur and Zafarabad metro stations remained closed but the metro operations were not interrupted. Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik is keeping an eye on the entire situation. DCP Ved Prakash Surya said that we are trying to negotiate from both the sides and also appealed to the public not to pay any heed to rumours.
