Situation remained tense in East Delhi’s Trilokpuri area on Saturday where two groups had clashed on Diwali night and a heavy police contingent along with Rapid Action Force has been deployed in the area. Two days after the communal riots, the area remained tense on Saturday and the police imposed Section 144 and maintained heavy police presence. The situation had detiriorated following violent clashes on Friday night.
There were unconfirmed reports that at least four people have been shot at in the violence till now. A cloth shop was set on fire on Saturday morning and heavy stone pelting was reported from a few blocks. A curfew-like situation prevailed through out the day in the locality. A few vehicles were reportedly damaged on Friday night as well. The incident had begun on Thursday evening reportedly over playing of music at a religious gathering. There was heavy stone pelting on Thursday but the police managed to bring the situation under control by Friday morning. Two youth were arrested after which the situation turned normal.
However, fresh clashes broke out on Friday night following an untoward activity by some unscrupulous elements at a religious gathering again.
On Saturday morning, the cops added, situation worsened after a cloth shop was set on fire at about noon. “The violence, which was restricted to block 20, spread to nearby blocks from where reports of stone pelting started pouring-in,” said the police, adding, “Teams of Rapid Action Force and paramilitary were sent to these blocks to contain the violence.” A few persons even tried to blast a cylinder in one of these blocks, which was thwarted by prompt police action. Till Saturday evening, at least three dozens persons, including eleven cops, were injured in the incident. No casualties were reported, however. The injured were admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital for medication. The police have registered FIRs against people from both the communities. And at least 33 people have been arrested. The exact reason of clashes is, however, still unknown.
A senior police officer said companies from commissioner’s reserve, RAF and paramilitary continued to take rounds of the area and made announcements of imposition of section 144 in the area on the loudspeaker. Senior district police officers, including the joint commissioner of police and deputy commissioner of police were present on the spot to keep the situation under control.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress unit on Saturday expressed “serious” concern at the clashes in Trilok Puri, and appealed to the people to maintain peace and order in the area. The Pradesh Congress, in a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner, has asked him to immediately restore peace and order.
The unit chief spokesperson and senior leader Mukesh Sharma said that as the news of the clashes was received, the Congress leaders talked to top police officials to get the complete details of the clashes, and appealed to the police to provide people with security and protection. The DPCC Chief Arvinder Singh appealed to all the Congress leaders and workers that they should immediately take all the necessary steps to restore peace and order.