Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 17: A clash broke out between members of two communities in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri yesterday evening at around 6 p.m.
According to authorities, nine persons were hurt in the stone-pelting and subsequent conflict, including eight police officers and a civilian.
Sub-Inspector Medhalal Meena of the Delhi Police is among the injured. He was shot in the hand but according to police, his health is stable.
In the incident, police have arrested 14 people for stone-pelting and violence. According to police, more suspects have been identified using CCTV footage and videos on social media. Efforts are underway to arrest the suspects.
A case has been registered under sections relating to rioting, attempt to murder and Arms Act. Ten teams of officers from the Crime Branch and Special Cell have been formed to investigate the matter.
Police sources said preliminary investigation into the violence points to a conspiracy angle.
According to news agency ANI, Inspector Rajeev Ranjan,who was deployed in Jahangirpuri PS area,said in the FIR statement, “Police engaged in security for the religious procession separated the two groups but after some time clashes erupted between the two sides. On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, there was an attempt to create communal tension by stone-pelting.”
“Procession was underway peacefully when it reached near C-Block mosque. A man with his 4-5 other companions started arguing with those taking part in the procession. Later, stone pelting started from both sides,” the statement added.
Police have opened an investigation for riots, attempted murder, and the Arms Act. To examine the case, ten teams of police from the Crime Branch and Special Cell have been constituted.
The police are investigating if the altercation was part of a planned plot or if it erupted spontaneously following an argument.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the communal confrontations, police in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, stood on high alert and conducted rigorous patrols. Even on a Sunday morning, there was a considerable security presence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri neighbourhood.
Heavy security deployment in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area where a clash broke out yesterday during a religious procession pic.twitter.com/TFkApvrNj3
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2022
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has condemned the stone-pelting and called for action against those involved. “Appeal to everyone to hold each others’ hands and maintain peace,” he wrote on Twitter.
