Stones were pelted from both sides, but the police arrested only Muslims
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – There seems to be no let-up in the saffron brigade’s aggression against Muslims in the country. This is evident from the fresh communal clashes that erupted in Jahangirpuri area of New Delhi on Saturday evening.
The latest violence followed the same pattern as has been seen in during Ram Navami violence. A religious procession, Shoba Yatra, organized to mark Hanuman Jyanti, passed through the Muslim locality amidst provocative slogans raking up the ghosts of communal violence.
Reports have it that at least nine people, including eight policemen, were injured in the violence. Police have, so far, registered several cases and arrested 14 people, all Muslims, which has raised eyebrows over the fairness of the investigation.
According to eye-witness accounts, Hindu revellers targeted a mosque. The tried to barge into the religious place with intent to hoist saffron flags atop its minarets. This, locals said, led to outbreak of clashes. The participants in the procession were heard shouting provocative slogans that against Muslims like the one warning them to chant Ram Ram if they want to live in India.
They alleged stone pelting from the mosque when they were passing through the locality and had no option but to retaliate. But videos viral on social media tell as different story. Participants of the procession could be seen brandishing swords, guns and lathis in the visuals. According to India Today, the particular video is from Jahangirpuri’s C-D Block market.
After the clashes, authorities beefed up security with police and paramilitary forces fanning out across the streets in the area to maintain law and order. Marches were also conducted in other parts of the city as the police appealed for peace.
Special CP Dependra Pathak, while speaking to IANS, said the situation is now under control and peace returned to the area.
“We have lodged an FIR and initiated an investigation into the case,” Pathak added. 10 teams have been constituted to probe the violence.
DCP, northwest, held a meeting community leaders where he promised fair investigation.
“In order to maintain peace and tranquility in the area, a meeting was organised at Kushal Chowk in the area of Jahangirpuri police station with the members of Aman committee of Jahangirpuri, Mahendra Park and Adarsh Nagar,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said.
One of those arrested is Aslam, accused of brandishing a gun and firing gun shots during the clashes. The police say he is 21-year-old, but his family claimed he is all of 17. An age related document shows 2005 as his birth year.
Ansar is another Muslim youth whose name is doing the rounds as the main accused in the violence. But his wife and neighbours vouched for his innocence. His wife told NDTV that Ansar had gone out to resolve a dispute between the two sides.
“Ansar is living here with his family for 12 years, and they’ve never indulged in any violence. They have always helped us,” Kamlesh Gupta, a neighbour of Ansar, told NDTV.
A complaint from a sub-inspector, which formed the basis for the FIR, also shows that stones were pelted from both sides, yet the police arrested only Muslims.
BJP leaders, alleging a “conspiracy” behind the violence, demanded a probe into the role of “illegal immigrants from Bangladesh”. They said the violence was not spontaneous. Yet, on Saturday, a day after the violence, a gathering of BJP supporters was seen shouting provocative slogans right in front of the mosque which turned out to be the scene of the violence on Sunday.
Later, woman family members of those who have been arrested held a protest demonstration outside the Jahangirpuri police station demanding in support of their release chanting “Allah o Akbar”. Rightwing Hindutva supporters were also seen on the spot countering them with “Jai Shree Ram” slogans.