Delhi Police has arrested a total of 20 people and apprehended 2 juveniles in case of a communal violence that erupted during a Shobha Yatra procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in the national capital. The arrested include, one of the “main conspirators” behind the clashes and another person who allegedly fired a bullet that hit a sub-inspector, have been arrested.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said three firearms and five swords have also been recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.
Meanwhile, the central probe agencies are examining whether the violence at Jahangirpuri in Delhi has any links with the recent communal clashes in Karauli in Rajasthan and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. The agencies claim that the modus operandi of all these incidents is similar, hinting at a larger conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony in the country.
The attacks on religious processions in these states have been noticed in places where both Hindu and Muslim communities have been living for a long time. The Delhi clashes broke out between the two groups of people when the Shobha Yatra procession was passing through the road just next to Kusal Cinema Hall, on the opposite side of which is a mosque.
If the police would not have placed themselves between both sides, many more people would have been injured, said sub-inspector Meda Lal Meena, who sustained a bullet injury during the violent incident. Meena (50), who has been with the Delhi Police since 1993, was one of seven police personnel who were injured in the violence that broke out during a shobha yatra in the area on Saturday evening. He sustained a bullet injury in his left forearm.
As per several videos of the procession, people can be seen wielding swords and chanting religious slogans just before the clashes broke out. According to the FIR lodged at the Jahangirpuri police station, the Shobha Yatra procession was passing off peacefully, but at around 6 p.m., when they reached outside a mosque, the accused Anshar came there with his 4-5 associates and started arguing with the participants of Shobha Yatra.
The argument soon turned violent and both the sides started pelting stones at each other. “I, Inspector Rajiv Ranjan Singh, tried to pacify the situation and separated the two groups, however, within some time, they again started pelting stones after which I informed the Police Control Room about the development,” read the FIR.
Soon after this, more police force reached the spot along with senior officials, however, by that time the mob had turned completely violent. The mob pelted stones on the police force and also fired shots at them.
At least 8 policemen were injured. To contain the situation and disperse the crowd, the police fired 40-50 tear gas shells. Amid the pandemonium, one scooty was torched and 5-6 cars were vandalised.
