Deaths, injuries, and arson in the February 2020 violence still haunt the residents; rebuilt houses now stand behind iron gates, but several questions remain unanswered
NEW DELHI — Six years ago, on 23 and 24 February 2020, parts of North East Delhi turned into scenes of deadly violence that residents say can never be forgotten. What began as clashes soon spread across areas such as Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Chand Bagh and Shiv Vihar, leaving 53 people dead, hundreds injured and properties worth crores destroyed.
Of the 53 people officially recorded as killed, 40 were Muslims and 13 were Hindus. A police constable also lost his life during duty, and several police personnel were injured. Human rights groups and some locals continue to claim that the actual number of deaths may have been higher.
Today, many houses have been rebuilt. Shops have reopened. Fresh paint covers once-blackened walls. Iron gates now block the entrances to several narrow lanes, and CCTV cameras are visible on rooftops. Yet behind these changes, residents say fear and mistrust have not fully gone away.
‘That Night Still Lives in My Mind’
On the evening of 23 February 2020, violence spread quickly through the tightly packed neighbourhoods. Residents recall the sound of stones hitting walls, gunshots ringing through the air and flames rising above rooftops.
“It was not a war in some faraway country,” said Mohammad Arif, a shopkeeper from Jaffrabad. “It was our own street. We were standing on our roof, watching smoke rise from the next lane. My children were crying. My wife kept asking me, ‘Will we survive this night?’”
Many families say electricity was cut in several areas during the night. In the darkness, mothers held their children close to them while fathers stood near doors with sticks in their hands, unsure what would happen next.
“There were screams of ‘save us’ from different sides,” recalled Shabana Begum, a resident of Maujpur. “We switched off all the lights and sat quietly. We whispered to each other, ‘We are safe for now, but for how long?’ That fear has never fully left us.”
By the morning of 24 February, the streets were covered in ash. Burnt motorcycles lay abandoned. Windows were shattered. Shoes and household items were scattered across roads, suggesting that people had fled in panic.
Deaths, Injuries and Allegations
According to official figures, hundreds were injured, many with gunshot wounds and deep cuts from sharp objects. Hospitals in the area were flooded with the wounded.
A doctor who was on duty at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Stretchers kept coming in. There was blood everywhere. Families were crying outside the emergency ward. We worked without rest for hours.”
Among the incidents that shocked the country was the killing of a young man whose body was later found in a drain with multiple injuries. In another case, a child from Uttarakhand was reportedly burnt alive inside a shop during the violence. These events, residents say, are not just numbers but stories of families broken overnight.
Police registered 758 FIRs and arrested more than 2,000 people in connection with the riots. Several cases are still going through the courts.
Some Muslim residents allege that they were targeted in large numbers. “Most of those who died were from our community,” said Abdul Rahman, whose cousin was killed. “We are still waiting for full justice. We lost our people, our homes and our sense of safety.”
Delhi Police have previously maintained that action was taken against those found involved, regardless of religion, and that investigations were conducted according to the law.
Homes Rebuilt, Trust Damaged
Six years later, the physical signs of violence are less visible. In Chand Bagh and Shiv Vihar, newly painted walls and rebuilt balconies suggest recovery. Markets are active again. Children can be seen walking to school.
But residents say the social fabric has changed.
“Before 2020, we used to exchange sweets during festivals,” said a 62-year-old resident of Shiv Vihar, who did not wish to be named. “Now there is a formal smile, but not the same trust.”
In several lanes, large iron gates have been installed at entry points. “These gates were not here earlier,” said Mohammad Arif. “They are for protection. We close them at night.”
CCTV cameras have also become common. “We feel we must watch everything,” said Shabana Begum. “We do not want to be caught unprepared again.”
Life in Relief Camps
In the days following the violence, hundreds of families were moved to relief camps. For many children, it was the first time they had been forced to leave home under threat.
“My son kept asking when we would go back home,” said Yasmeen, who spent weeks in a temporary shelter. “How do you explain to a child that neighbours can suddenly become enemies?”
Some families never returned. They sold damaged properties at low prices and moved to other parts of the city or outside Delhi altogether.
Community volunteers and local charities played a major role in providing food, clothes and temporary shelter. “People from our own community stood by us,” said Abdul Rahman. “Without them, we would have been on the streets.”
Official Response and Ongoing Cases
Police investigations led to hundreds of arrests. Charge sheets were filed in many cases, and trials continue in several courts. Officials have stated in the past that they acted to restore order and bring those responsible to justice.
A senior police officer, speaking earlier about the riots, had said: “We registered cases based on evidence and video footage. Anyone found guilty will face the law.”
However, some residents and rights groups have questioned aspects of the investigation and the pace of legal proceedings. “Six years is a long time,” said a local social worker. “Families want closure. They want to know that what happened will not happen again.”
A City That Remembers
Delhi is known for its long history and busy life. Yet for residents of North East Delhi, the nights of 23 and 24 February 2020 remain a painful chapter.
The smoke has cleared from the sky. Shops are open. Walls have been repaired. But in many homes, memories are still fresh.
“When people ask if everything is normal now, we fall silent,” said Shabana Begum. “We are living our lives. But the fear is still somewhere inside.”
Six years on, the anniversary is not marked by public gatherings or loud speeches in these lanes. Instead, it is remembered quietly — in prayers for those who died, in conversations at dinner tables, and in the cautious way neighbours now look at one another.
For the families who lost loved ones, the riots are not a past event. They are a wound that time has not fully healed.
