On Delhi Violence, Amit Shah Asks Police To Take Strict Action

Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana today and called for strict action in the violence that hit northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri two days ago on Hanuman Jayanti.

"The Home Minister was very categorical and asked them not to make any mistake while probing the matter," said a senior official from the Home Ministry, referring to the backdrop of communal violence that rocked the city in 2019.

The police are in a tight corner over a petition filed in the High Court today, which claimed that one of the accused is a juvenile.

"When he was arrested, he told police that he is 21 or 22 years old. When he was taken to doctor, he again said same thing… Now we have produced him before juvenile justice board," an officer said off the record.

Investigations have also revealed that the Hanuman Jayanti procession during which trouble broke out on Saturday evening, was being held without permission.

Three processions were held on Saturday and trouble broke out during the third procession, for which no permission had been granted, an officer said.

"They just had submitted an application to the police station and we had not given any permission but still they took out a procession," he added.  

The police said as the procession, with people holding up saffron flags, passed by the mosque, the loud volume of religious chants clashed with the azaan or Muslim call to prayers. This triggered an argument between the two groups - members of the procession and those praying in the mosque.

"Ramzan is going on and in evening Muslims also offer prayers. They asked the group to lower the volume, but they started shouting slogans which led to the initial trouble," said another officer.

The police have registered a case under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, which is bailable offence. Twenty three people, including minors, have been arrested in the case.

Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said a search is on for all the accused. "23 people have been arrested. They are from both communities. Action will be taken against any person found guilty irrespective of their class, creed, community and religion," Mr Asthana told reporters.

Many people seen participating in the clashes are missing. Three home-grown pistols and five swords have been seized from those arrested so far. "Weapons have been recovered from both groups - the ones who were carrying out procession and the ones who were opposing it too," said a senior police officer.